Object Lessons: Burdens and Rest

A speaker raises a glass of water and asks the audience "How heavy do you think this glass of water is?"

His answer: "It depends on how long you hold it"

• "If I hold it for a minute, it is Ok."
• "If I hold it for an hour, I will have an ache in my right arm"
• "If I hold it for a day, you will have to call an ambulance"

"It is the exact same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes"

If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, we will not be able to carry on, the burden becoming increasingly heavier.

"What you have to do is to put the glass down, rest for a while holding it up again."

We have to put down the burden periodically, so that we can be refreshed and are able to carry on.

When you return home from work, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up
tomorrow. Rest and relax. Take one day at a time!!!!!

Take It to the Next Level

Although from a secular source, the principle behind it is biblical. That s why Jesus told us to cast our burdens on Him, instructed us to pray Give us our daily bread And even in Psalms 23 though it is not clearly stated, the Shepherd leads His sheep besides green pastures and still waters day to day. We really ought to live one day at a time and really rely on nothing and no one else except on the Faithful Providence of God. He will give us the strength to carry on again.

Don't borrow from tomorrow' s sunshine for it s skies may turn to gray . Tomorrow is not our problem but God 's perfect plan. Therefore if any of us are yoked, are burdened, are held back by problems, don t hesitate to put it down and go to Jesus for
rest. He will give us the strength to carry on again.

Bible Scripture

• "Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall." (Psalm 55:22)
• "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)
• Jesus said: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

Optional Object Lesson, Creative learning Activity, or Sermon for kids (Children's Sermon)

Bring in several items of equal weight.  Empty plastic milk jugs filled with water or empty 1 liter soft drink bottles work well.  Ask for volunteers among the children or youth to join you in a friendly competition.  Let them pick up the items and ask them if the item is heavy?  You could also ask them to guess the weight.  Most will say that they are not really that heavy.  Then line the students up in a line and tell them they must hold the items straight out from their body at a right angle or 90 degrees. There will be a prize for the teen who can hold it there the longest.  The teenagers may not have considered the items heavy, but the longer they hold them, the heavier the items get.  If you want to add a little discussion to the process, ask the youth to share some of the burdens that people carry in life or share some of the burdens you have experienced for yourself.  Some examples of burdens could be: a hurt you needed to forgive, personal failure, worries, responsibilities, doubts, struggles, lost dreams, mistakes, a poor sense of self worth, abuse, etc.  Burdens are those things that tire us out and that cause us to worry.  Then share the story and talk about the scripture references.

Discussion Questions

• How can you know if something is a burden?
• What are some of the burdens youth experience?
• We do we often carry our burdens instead of setting them down?  Why do we hold on to these burdens?
• How can we let go of burdens? What are some of the ways we can place these burdens in the care of Jesus?
• What is the benefit of placing our burdens into the care of Jesus?
• What is a burden you need to let go of this week? How can you do that? What this give you freedom to experience or do?

For More Object Lesson for Kids, Visit Us On Youth Ministry Object Lessons

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