Command your works to the LORD
A farmer was driving his pickup truck on the main road and saw a hitchhiker with a heavy backpack. He stopped and offered him a ride, which the hitchhiker gladly accepted. After driving for a while, the farmer glanced in the rearview mirror and saw that the hitchhiker was hunched over in the back of the truck with the heavy backpack still slung over his shoulders. The farmer stopped and yelled, "Hey, why don't you take off the backpack and put it on the bunk?" "It's okay," the hitchhiker replied. "You don't have to worry about me. Just take me to my destination and I will be happy."
How ridiculous that is! But many Christians have this attitude. They are happy to be picked up in the "ambulance" that takes them to heaven, but they don't take the load off their shoulders during the journey.
This contradicts the truth we find in the Bible – and the truth will lighten your burden! Sprüche 16,3 King Solomon shows us one of his sparkling gems again: "Command your works to the Lord, and your purpose will prosper." There is more to this verse than striving to be a dutiful Christian. "Command" here literally means "roll (on)". It has something to do with rolling or rolling something from yourself to someone else. A report in 1. Mose 29 makes it clear. Jacob, on his way to Paddan-aram, came to a well where he met Rachel. She and others wanted to water their sheep, but a heavy stone covered the well's opening. Jacob "approached and rolled the stone away from the
Opening the well” (verse 10) and watered the sheep. The Hebrew word “rolled” in this passage is the same word as “command” in Sprüche 16,3The expression "rolling" in the sense of "rolling a burden on God" is also found in Psalm 37,5 and 55:23. It represents complete dependence on God. The Apostle Peter wrote in a similar vein: “All your anxiety
“Throw at him, for he cares for you.” (1. Petr 5,7)The Greek word for "to throw" essentially means the same as the Hebrew word "to command," which is also translated as "to roll" or "to throw (upon)." This is a conscious action on our part. We also find the word "to throw" in the account of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, where he rode on a donkey.
– “and threw their clothes on the colt” (Lk 19,35)Cast all your worries upon the back of our Lord. He will take care of them because He cares for you.
Can't forgive someone? Cast it on God! Are you angry? Cast it on God! Are you afraid? Cast it on God! Are you fed up with the injustices of this world? Cast them on God! Are you dealing with a difficult person? Cast the burden on God! Have you been abused? Cast it on God! Are you desperate? Cast it on God! But that's not all. God's invitation to "cast it on Him" is without exception. Solomon wrote that we should cast whatever we do on God. As you journey through life, cast all things on God—all your plans, hopes, and dreams. When you cast everything on God, don't just do it in your thoughts. Do it. Put your thoughts into words. Talk to God. Be specific: "Let your requests be made known to God." (Phil 4,6)Tell Him, “I’m worried about…” “I’m surrendering it to you. It’s yours. I don’t know what to do.” Prayer establishes a relationship, and God deeply desires that we turn to Him. He wants us to share our lives with Him. He wants to know you through you! God wants to listen to you—what a thought!
The word "command" is sometimes translated as "entrust" in the Old Testament. The Amplified Bible translates this. Sprüche 16,3 as follows: “Roll up your works upon the Lord [commit them/entrust them entirely to Him].” Whatever it is, entrust it to Him. Roll it upon Him. Trust God that He will take care of it and do what is His will. Leave it with Him and remain calm. What will happen in the future? God “will work out your plans.” He will shape our desires, our wills, and our plans so that everything is in accordance with His will, and He will place His desires in our hearts so that they become our own. (Ps 37,4).
Take the burden off your shoulders. God invites us to turn everything over to Him. Then you can have confidence and inner peace, your plans, wishes, and concerns will be fulfilled in some way, because they are in accordance with God's wishes. This is an invitation you should not refuse!
by Gordon Green
