The Hamster Wheel Is Not Inevitable

Are you ever so burdened that you feel like you just can’t take any more?

Let’s face it, life has always had its burdens. They may change faces with generations or phases of life, but the burdens are there nevertheless.  The task list and information overload seem to increase by the day, and there seems to be no relief.  We churn and churn.

One often-missed benefit of following Jesus Christ is a ceasing from the striving of life – the drive to meet up in order to matter.  Life’s and people’s and the world’s subtle or not-so-subtle message is, work a little harder or you won’t meet up, or you won’t make it.  If you are ahead, you’ll quickly fall behind if you don’t constantly keep at it. Sometimes the church even falls into this rut.

Listen to Jesus’ offer to anyone in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

This is a surprise, and is often overlooked in our busy day-to-day lives, but it is an increasingly natural effect arising from the outworking of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our everyday lives.  Our destiny, meaning, purpose, love, and relationship with God are all sealed in Christ’s work on the cross.  No more striving. Once we are in Him, we are invited by the Lord Himself to relax into increasingly abundant life, and on into a perfect eternity. 

If there is one thing we need, it is rest; not just for our bodies, but for our souls.  Rest is not a natural by-product of life in this world if we live according to its fallen system.  One of the benefits of knowing Jesus is an easy yoke and a light load.  Life under His lordship means we are truly able to unshoulder those burdens and enjoy Christ for a well-paced life and eternity.

It sounds too easy, and too good to be true, but nothing could be clearer from Jesus’ loving words.  A life lived on the endless hamster wheel is not inevitable, and is not what those who know Jesus are destined for, either now or for eternity.

Chris Heinss