Around 130 AD, there was a follower of Jesus named Mathetes. He had a friend and teacher named Diognetus, who was not a Believer. In a letter to Diognetus, Mathetes described his observations about people who were Believers of Christ. It became known as The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus. Following is an Americanized excerpt of the epistle:
“Christians love all men yet are persecuted by all. They are unknown yet are condemned. They are put to death yet restored to life. They are poor yet make many rich. They are in lack of all things, yet abound in all. They are dishonored, yet in their very dishonor, they are glorified. They are spoken of as evil, yet they are justified. When they are reviled, they bless in return. They are insulted, and repay the insult with honor. They do good, yet are punished as evil-doers. When punished, they rejoice as if quickened into life. They are assailed by Jews as foreigners and are persecuted by the Greeks, yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred.”
These observations by Mathetes reveal an important aspect of Jesus’ promise to provide an easy yoke and light burden for all who would follow Him. Importantly, the easy yoke and light burden have nothing to do with the circumstances in our lives. Jesus never promises we will have lives without problems. In fact, before He faces the massive reality of His crucifixion, He says this to the disciples: “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage;” (John 16:33)
The easy yoke and light burden have much to do with how we respond to difficult circumstances. How does a non-Believer respond to being beaten? He fights back in anger. He threatens lawsuits. He plots revenge. Hatred boils his blood until it consumes him.
If defeated, despair overtakes him. All hope vanishes from him. He then resorts to escape. Maybe drugs, maybe alcohol. Whatever his choice of escape, that choice ensares him, becoming his master. Or does he turn to suicide, the ultimate point of no hope, no return.
No easy yoke or light burden can be found in those responses. Instead, it’s like pouring gasoline on a fire. The yoke of the world expands into a gigantic chain around his neck, and the burden becomes an inescapable morass.
What does the Believer possess that provides a different kind of response to horrible circumstances? Galatians 5:22 provides nine excellent tools: “For the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control.” When incorporating those nine qualities into his actions and thoughts, the Believer magnificently resides in the realm of the easy yoke and light burden.
This is not a ‘grit your teeth’ sort of thing. It’s a Holy Spirit-inspired, proactive decision to love instead of hate, to let joy reign instead of sorrow and despair, to emit peace rather than conflict, to live in patience instead of impatience, to act with kindness rather than unkindness, to exhibit goodness rather than evil, to be faithful with boundless trust rather than unfaithful with distrust, to be humble and other-centered rather than arrogant and self-centered. Finally, to be calm with self-control rather than to be chaotic with no self-control at all.
The result of that always turns out to be good. It’s because we’ve placed our trust in the hands of a sovereign God.
He already knew the horrible circumstance would confront you. He desired your response would be foremost keeping your trust in His promises to you. Let’s mention one: “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)
Do you believe He will repay the injustices done to you? If so, you have this amazing capacity to respond to any harm done to you in a wondrously good way. It’s a way that keeps you grounded in the life of the easy yoke and light burden. Therefore, you will not grow weary and heavy-laden. You will find rest for your soul.