There was a man who was a burden to his four friends as they carried him everywhere. He suffered from paralysis. One day, they became desperate and decided to do something drastic. They were ready for a miracle as they lifted him and brought him to Jesus. Sadly, there was no room but they broke the roof. That’s drastic, I tell you. No sooner did they do so than the man became no longer a burden.
Jesus healed him and gave instructions for him to take up his bed. Read it more fully in Mark 2:1-12 and I guarantee it will build your faith. No matter what you are going through right now and regardless of how dependent on man you have become. Regardless of how many people have been carrying you everywhere, you can become no longer a burden.
Perhaps you have to go to your uncle before you can feed your family. Or maybe you walk partway to work to save on transport fare. I hope you are tired of being carried by men and are ready for Jesus to start carrying you and your burdens. Jesus invites us to come to Him because He is our burden bearer. Whatever it is that is causing men to carry you will come to a sudden end when you encounter Jesus. You say you have been a Christian all your life, so what are we saying about encountering Jesus?
When This Man Encountered Jesus
Ah! Going to church does not make a person a Christian. Jesus even told us that not everyone who calls him Lord will get to heaven. But because heaven is our goal, we have to tell the truth, which is usually bitter and warn people. Don’t forget that Satan went to the temple (church) when he wanted to tempt Jesus. In like manner, you find our churches are filled with devils and demons, there to tempt believers out of faith. Even if you are not one of them, you have to be on your guard and not equate church with Christ.
Genuinely encountering Jesus and submitting to Him is the only way you will be no longer a burden to friends and family. It is the only way they will not block your phone number. They have discovered by painful experience that you will ask for help every time you call. Mercifully, the bible says today is your day. No, not your day to get financial help from your friend, but the day to get complete help from your brother. His name is Jesus.
The day this paralyzed man genuinely encountered Jesus was the day he was no longer a burden. Why? Because Jesus has the power to forgive sin, as we see in the bible account. He also has the power to heal and when the man encountered Jesus, his paralysis came to an end. Have you been paralyzed in one way or another?
I hope you know that physical paralysis is not the only type there is. There is mental paralysis where a person will resist the truth and think of evil as good, right as wrong. An extreme case is that of a man who is naked and thinks everybody else is crazy for being clothed.
Freedom From Paralysis Means You Are No Longer A Burden
Of course, if you are a burden to your friends, you already know of financial paralysis. But today, as you surrender to Jesus, you become no longer a burden to your friends. And as you continue with Jesus, you may find that you are able to carry someone else. But don’t forget to bring them to Jesus as those four men did. Because it is only when your friend is no longer a burden that you can safely and truly enjoy your wealth. Of course, that implies you yourself are standing strong, which is possible only in Jesus.
Abraham carried others but he never had to be a burden, not even to Lot, who accompanied him. You see, you are not truly blessed until you are a blessing to others. And this is your chance to be a blessing to others. Come to Jesus, receive your own blessing, and then start to bless others. I can tell you without fear of controversy that that is the surest way to secure your own blessing. Don’t let it surprise you that we still covet Abraham’s type of blessings.
We sing “Abraham’s blessings are mine.” For example, this is one way I am blessing you, sharing the truth of God’s word with you here. And even if you don’t have your own blog, you can share this with as many people as possible. Thereby, you are blessing them and they will be no longer a burden to you or to others.
Maranatha!
