LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
God's Burden in His Servants
God's true burden is expressed in a genuine service to the saints.
César Albino
"Besides those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is caused to stumble, and I burn not?" (2 Cor.11:28-29).
In light of these verses, we see that the apostle Paul had a deep internal suffering, but that it was not due to his many afflictions. The cause of his suffering were the churches, the problems that were among the brothers and sisters. What's more, that series of afflictions which he experienced, and which are mentioned in the context of these verses, are mentioned almost in passing. The sadness of his soul, the troubles of his heart, everything, was for the churches.
What is the work of God in a determined place? The work of God is not a slogan. It is not a mere saying. It is not something mystic or abstract. The work of God in a determined place are people, men and women who suffer. They are men and women relating together, and with the Lord. Therefore, the servants of the Lord have the responsibility before God of helping the brothers and sisters, to bless them, to be with them, to suffer with them. If it is necessary, to cry; if it is necessary, to suffer.
The burden of God
The burden of God, within a servant is not to want to exhibit their knowledge or being recognized by their gifts. Nor is the burden of God to criticize the work in a certain place. We sometimes under-appreciate and criticize the brothers and sisters, and even have the audacity to say: "It's because God's zeal for His house consumes me, and for that reason I say this." We think that God's zeal is the spiritual burden, but it is not. That attitude is a critical one that only contributes to discouraging the brothers and sisters.
The burden of God in the workers doesn't consist in becoming superior to their brothers and sisters, nor in always having the last word. No; the burden of God is to suffer for the work when it doesn't prosper, it is to suffer for the families that suffer, or for the brothers and sisters who do not receive one another. The burden of God in servants is not to want to reprehend a brother and to embarrass him in front of the whole church. It is to have a pain inside, like the Lord Jesus Christ when seeing that his own people were dispersed, longing to gather them, as a hen gathers her chicks. The burden of God is to truly suffer for the work in a certain place, it is to suffer with the brothers and sisters, it is to feel concern for them every day. It is to unite the hearts of those that are underappreciated. It is to be a peacemaker among brothers and sisters that are in disharmony.
The burden of God in the servants of the Lord is not to want to exhibit himself preaching beautiful sermons to favor our ministry. Many times there is no time to preach, nor even to prepare messages. Sometimes, there is not even time for reading the Scriptures: it is necessary to fall on one's knees, because such is the burden that it is better to pray and to wait on the Lord. Then it is necessary to go out to visit, not with the Bible under the arm, but with Christ's compassion in the heart, with which he consoles his own.
Often we misinterpret the burden of God, the zeal of God. We think that the one who hits the pulpit hardest is the most zealous for the work of God. Or the one who seems to understand things the clearest, and shows characteristics of a leader, yes, he must have the burden of God! But the burden of God is something altogether different.
"Who is weak, and I am not weak?" The true servant lives the same thing that the church is living. If a family is weak -be it of some physical illness or of the soul-, the servant is also weak. Their spirit almost dismays, not because they in themself are weak, but because there is somebody suffering.
"Who is weak, and I am not weak?" How can you ask a servant of God to forget their brothers and sisters, if he knows that they are not well? How can you ask a servant not to worry about a church locality, when he knows that there is a problem there, and that they need to be visited? In fact, those that have the burden of God cannot sleep so calmly on their pillows. Sometimes there are sighs that only God knows. It seems that they are happy, but inside they are sometimes torn by a situation that someone is living.
"Who is caused to stumble, and I burn not?" This indignation could be taken as mere anger. No; it is more of the heart, it is deeper within. Such indignation goes accompanied with a deep sadness because the work is suffering deterioration. It is not about going to try to fix the situation using biblical texts and reprehending that brother because we are indignant with him. It is certain, many times we will use the authority that the Lord has granted us, but if we have to raise our voice, that expression will have to go accompanied with a deep love, of a yearning to touch their heart with a word so that he is healed, so that he turns from their irresponsibility, and to turn back to walking with the Lord.
On occasions, as servants of the Lord, we tend to center everything too much on ourselves. "It's just that the brothers and sisters don't understand me; look at what I am suffering, my wife is sick, my economic situation is bad. The brothers and sisters don't understand me." Although it is legitimate to consider this, when one has the burden of God, he doesn't become selfishly inward-looking, but rather, he looks to others. And then the family problems and the personal conflicts are not so important. Their brothers and sisters are worth more; they are the main concern.
To do the work of God, critical servants are not needed, but rather, true co-workers who help to cry for the brothers and sisters, to suffer for them, who have a genuine pain. Servants who, when we come to see them, encourage us saying: "Brother, there is a difficult situation; and I am suffering for this reason. Let us kneel down, let us pray to the Lord." But not those who make us hear about their position and their prejudices for an hour or two. May the Lord free the brothers and sisters, may the Lord free us all, because we all are exposed, especially those who serve. May the Lord help us.
Only Timothy was sincerely interested
When Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, he was living a very specific situation: he was a prisoner. And from there he suffered, from there he cried, from there he groaned, from there he said these words. There was only one man, Timothy, who seemed to have the burden of God in his heart. And the other workers? How strong verse 21 is!: "Everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ." How many workers would there be there, who met together, who testified, who were in fellowship with the brothers and sisters, but didn't go beyond that? How many brothers and sisters will there be among us that meet together, who sing, who open the Scriptures, who sometimes even read a psalm or share some verses, and who, after doing that, think that all that's to be done is finished?
The apostle realized. That's why he said: "I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare." The burden of God is reflected in ones interest for the brothers and sisters. When someone is interested this way, they are concerned, they are thinking what can be done to help.
What happens to the others? Will it be enough simply preaching, gathering the church together on Wednesdays or Friday, and to prepare a message for Sunday? Are you, servant of God, sincerely concerned for the work? Or are you asleep? It would appear that some think that to collaborate in the work is to come to meetings, to hear a word and to return to their house to sit down, satisfied.
The servants of the Lord have hoped brothers and sisters would draw near to tell us: "Brother, I want to dedicate one Sunday, or two days in the month to serve in the work. You can count on me wherever there is necessity. Where do you want me to go? Where can I meet some need?" Many times we have suffered for this cause, because there are none who help. Sometimes we call by phone: "Brother, can you go?" "No, brother, do you know, I have a birthday invitation on that day...."
It is necessary to take a radical decision
I ask the Lord that at least some of the brothers and sisters that are here in this conference leave here marked by God in their hearts. That they can arrive at their house and meditate, that they can forget other important things in their life or of the pain that they are personally living, and remember the work. And say: "There is so much necessity, and I have been sleeping." I ask the Lord and I hope in the Lord that there are servants willing to serve.
We have been hearing that we are all workers, that we are all servants, that we are all useful, that we are all priests. Truly we have a lot of knowledge! Oh, Lord, how tremendous it will be on that day when Christ judges, with so much knowledge and so much revelation; if we don't make a radical decision right now, in the heart! I say it here today, so that on that day I am not told: "you didn't say these things." We will suffer loss in that day if we don't go from here out with a radical decision in the heart, considering everything as rubbish, to place our eyes in the work of God.
And when I say the work of God, I think of the brothers and sisters. What is this but Christ Himself, Christ's body, and all that relates to Him? This is the work of God.
May the Lord help us, may the Lord bless us.