This was one of the ordinances given to the Israelites, and that is to have compassion on a beast of burden, regardless of what you thought of the owner, this was to save the life of a beast of burden. Now, today we seldom see a donkey, but we still have beast of burdens. The word beast as used in Revelation, is translated as a living creature in the Slavic language; and we certainly have those today, living creatures that serve as beast of burdens.

Let me share an old Slavic fable.

In the old days there was this traveling trader, he had a horse and a donkey, loaded with goods, now since the donkey was smaller in height it was easier to load with heavy loads, such that there was always unequal distribution of loads. One day, as they were traveling down a road, the donkey looks up at the horse, and says to him, you know I always end up with the greater burden. That is because it is easier to load the stuff on my back, and the owner doesn't have to lift as high when he loads the stuff. You might consider helping me with some of this load? Now the horse was bigger and stronger, but it was harder to load stuff on his back, so the donkey was always over loaded. The horse looking down on the donkey, and said, nothing doing; those are the breaks' chump. Now, the donkey was really in need of relief, but he got none. Further down the road, the donkey collapsed and expired, so what did the trader do, took all the load off the dead donkey, and loaded on the horse. Since hides were worth their weight in gold, he skinned the donkey and loaded it on the horse. Now the horse ended up with the donkey's load and to boot he had the reminder of the donkey's hide on top of the load. Now the horse, thinks to himself, if I had only listen to the donkey, to help him with the load, I would not be in this predicament of carrying both loads, and now to add insult to injury I have his hide to reminded me of my folly.

Of course, this is only a story, with a moral implication, that we should be considerate of other peoples' burdens! I am sure that you got the point of the story; had the horse shared some of the load, he wouldn't have to carry the entire load by himself and spared the live of the donkey. Now you know that this must have been a fable, because we all know that donkey's can't talk, except for the one in " Numbers 22:28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? "

Now, there are many burdens in life, are you in some kind of situation in a ministry or at home where you are in some kind of authority or have some people working under your supervision? Do you have a heart of compassion, where you try to do the right thing by the workers, or not. Do you demand more of others than of yourself. On the other hand are you like Paul, "2 Corinthians 12:15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. 16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile." And when collecting for the needy in Jerusalem, he states this: "2 Corinthians 8:13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: 15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack." Paul bent backwards to be fair and have equality among the brethren.

Jeremiah 22:13 Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;

Consider the implications of above verse, ' his house ' it might mean a literal building, but then it might be a ministry as well, where one individual takes advantage of others to build their ministry, with out the proper compensation or credit given to the individual.

Galatians 6: 1 ¶ Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden. 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

By

Pete P. Repich

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