“Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Mt 11:28

We are continuing our study on the three traits Jesus was looking for when recruiting people to “spread his yoke” (to take his teachings all over the world). Yesterday, we discussed that the first attribute had to do with willingness to labor: A good work ethic if you will.

Now consider the second trait… Jesus said all you that are “heavy laden”. What can you tell about someone who is heavy laden? First of all, we see someone willing to push their limits. Someone who carries a heavy burden is someone who has been tested and knows what their limits are. This is an invaluable trait. I don’t want to go into a battle with an untested soldier. In business, if you put your trust in someone who doesn’t know their limits, they are prone to over promise and under deliver. They don’t know their limits and frequently miscalculate on delivery time, quality, etc. When people reach their limits, they are also much more likely to lean on God to help them do what they could never do on their own.

Another thing about someone carrying a heavy burden is that it demonstrates a willingness to carry a burden. How many times have you been told, “It’s not my job” or “We can’t do that”? Often times when I’ve been told that, it’s more about them not wanting to exert effort then it is about not being able to do it. Jesus is looking for people who not only are engaged in labor and willing to work, but are also willing to put their heart into it and go the extra mile.

Are you recruiting someone? Look for folks who labor and are heavy laden.

“Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Mt 11:28 - 30

We know salvation is an open invitation to whosoever will, but who does He choose to “take His yoke” and what does that mean anyway? In a 1^st Century Hebrew context, a rabbi would study the Scriptures and get his own twist on them, his own set of interpretations and that set of interpretations, that way of seeing Scripture was called that rabbi’s “yoke”. The most promising Jewish young men who had memorized the entire Old Testament would apply to take a particular rabbi’s yoke upon them. The qualifications to be accepted to spread that rabbi’s yoke were very high and few would be accepted.

Then came Jesus. And He gave an invitation to take His yoke, to spread His understanding of Scripture and He did have three qualifications if you wanted to apply. The first qualification was “labor”. Jesus was recruiting people who were willing to work, who understood responsibility and stepped up to the plate. If they weren’t willing to be responsible citizens and be gainfully employed, they weren’t going to be very responsible with his “yoke”. If you are recruiting a sales team, look for someone who isn’t afraid to work.

I am looking for a group of people I can invest the treasure God has poured into me and plant it deep within them. I am about my Father’s business and part of that includes finding people who know how to apply themselves and want to do even better. I am asking the Father to show me the best model to bring about transformation in those who are interested in becoming part of what some people would call a “mastermind” group. Details will emerge soon and I am open to suggestions. Stay tuned for the next message as we discuss the 2^nd requirement Jesus had to spread His yoke and change the world!