#10: False Burden Bearing and Blessings

I have mentioned it before, but one of the things I'm so blessed with this summer is to live with my dear friends. Haupi and his family have known me since my first trip to Vancouver about 8 or 9 years ago. They are the type of people that invest for the long haul. Haupi has a way of asking questions that just kind of linger and make me think. This is great...this is what I need. I also receive well from him because his actions and words match up. He and his wife can ask hard questions, because they have earned that right in my life and have always demonstrated love towards me. I know it is in the vein of spurring me own.

He and I were talking one night about how I tend to be a Rescuer in relationships, even friendships. And just as I was starting to kind of come down on myself for this he said.."No, Mo.....if it was a bad thing, God would have never designed you that way. It is a good quality, you just have to learn how to use it in the right way." And it really got me to thinking...sometimes we start to have a self loathing for things that are designed by God, we just use them in the wrong way. Mercy...Compassion....not bad. In fact....they are great...but the things that goes wrong is boundaries.

Ironically.....Haupi's sermon on Sunday was about bearing one another's burdens.....but a major part of his sermon was on "False Burden Bearing".........Now...I have been in church a long time. And I've heard alot of sermon's on bearing one another's burdens, but I don't remember ever hearing one on this topic. And let me tell you....I related to some of it, if I'm honest. (Haupi, are you using me as a subject? lol j/k)

Here are a few thoughts about people who false burden bear:

- need others and their problems to feel good about themselves (I think of this as the need to be needed)
- do what others NEED to be doing (Rescue)
- try to be someone else's Holy Spirit
- Covers up for other people
- no boundaries
- Messiah Complex (almost tries to play God)

And the thing I walked away with is Christ is calling us to be interdependent. On HIM.....which will allow us to bear other's burdens in a HEALTHY way.

I'm getting all of this from my scribbled down notes so maybe it only makes sense to me, but the challenging thought for me was..."How can I bear another's burden being used by God, not getting in the way of God.?"

THEN....I went to Ethos, the college and career group that meets at the coffee house on Sunday nights, and they were talking about living "Counter-culturally".

He used the scripture of the Beatitudes in Matthew. I've read this a hundred times, but I read it from my Message version and I REALLY liked how it was worded. So I'll share that with you.

"³"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

⁴"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

⁵"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

⁶"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

⁷"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

⁸"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

⁹"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

¹⁰"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

^11-12"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

I've been through some of this recently, and it brought be great comfort.

I am so thankful for the people in my life who spur me on towards Christ in a spirit of Love. The way in which things are said makes all the difference.

I know this was random, but I hope there was some sort of small gem in it for you today.