Bearing the yoke

We will be familiar with the way a farmer ploughs his fields with a tractor. In days gone by, the same job was done by a team of oxen. The oxen were connected to each other, and to the plough, by a yoke. By this means, the oxen worked together to pull the plough. In a similar way, the Bible speaks of bearing the yoke so that we can work together.

The prophet Jeremiah said that it is good for a young person to bear the yoke in their youth. Jer 3:27. We need to learn how to work hard from the youngest years. But more than this, we need to learn how to ‘work together’ as part of a team. We all know that working with other people can be a challenge. However, the Lord is intent on joining us together by a ‘yoke’ so that we become ‘fellow workers’. The apostle Paul continually spoke of his fellow workers like Timothy, Titus, Epaphroditus, Priscilla and Aquilla, and many others.

As we grow up and begin working with each other, it is vitally important to understand the type of ‘yoke’ that joins us together. The Scripture identifies two very distinct yokes. The first is the ‘iron yoke’ which is the bondage of the law. We are enslaved by an iron yoke if we live by law. And this means that all our relationships are bound by law. We are full of our own views and opinions on other people and how the work should be done. And when something goes wrong, we are quick to justify ourselves and accuse another person. For this reason, the prophet Isaiah identified the evidence of the iron yoke as the ‘pointing of the finger’. Isa 58:9. It doesn’t matter how hard we work, if we are bound by this yoke we are most certainly living in bondage. And we will grow weary and become overburdened.

In complete contrast to the iron yoke of the law, Jesus spoke of ‘My yoke’. He said, ‘Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden … take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart’. Matt 11:28-29. If we desire to work together and bear the yoke in our youth, we must be willing to learn. We need to learn how to be gentle and humble. If the ‘pointing of the finger’ is the evidence of the iron yoke, then gentleness and humility are the evidence of the yoke of Jesus. These two virtues should govern all our relationships as we work together. If we are humble then we will be able to receive correction and help from a co-worker. Equally, if we are gentle then we will be able to help a co-worker if they stumble, restoring ‘such a one in a spirit of gentleness’. Gal 6:1.

Jesus described His yoke as being ‘easy’. He was not describing how easy or hard the work will be. This word means ‘effective’ and ‘well employed’. If we learn how to work together, joined by His yoke, we are assured of being effective and well employed in the Lord’s kingdom. We will be working together with Him and each other. 2Cor 6:1. This should be our pursuit from the youngest years.

David Baker

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Feature Articles
November 2008

Understanding your way

The words of eternal life

Every good gift

The song that counts

Be fruitful and multiply

A man who prays

Amazing grace

The secret place

Perspective on tribulation

Bearing the yoke

The problem of evil