2 Chronicles 10:1-5: a reflection

1Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2When Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon), Jeroboam returned out of Egypt. 3They sent and called him; and Jeroboam and all Israel came, and they spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4“Your father made our yoke grievous. Now therefore make the grievous service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you.” 5He said to them, “Come again to me after three days.” So the people departed.

When Rehoboam comes to be made king, the people bring him a request. His father Solomon had laid a heavy yoke on them, hard labor and heavy burdens; and they ask the new king to lighten it: Lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke, and we will serve you. Rehoboam has a choice before him: to use his new authority to ease the burdens of his people, or to keep them heavy. He asks for three days to decide.

Notice the choice this moment presented. Rehoboam had power over his people, and with it the chance either to lighten their burdens or to add to them. The people's request was reasonable, an appeal for relief from heavy loads; and the new king could have won their loyalty simply by easing what weighed them down. His authority was an opportunity to serve his people by lightening their burdens.

That choice comes, in smaller forms, to anyone who has authority or influence over others, as a parent, an employer, a leader, or simply someone with power to make another's load heavier or lighter. We can use our position to ease the burdens of those under us, or to add to them. God's own heart is to lift burdens, not to pile them on; and he calls those with authority to serve, not to weigh others down. Where you have influence over others' burdens, use it to lighten, not to add. Look for chances to ease the loads of those under your authority or in your care, as Rehoboam was given the chance to do; use whatever power you have to serve and relieve, not to burden.

Lord, when the people asked Rehoboam to lighten the heavy yoke his father had laid on them, he had a choice: to use his authority to ease their burdens or to add to them. Show me that same choice in my own life. Wherever I have authority or influence over others, as a parent, an employer, a leader, or simply someone with power to make another's load heavier or lighter, I can use my position to ease their burdens or to add to them. Your own heart is to lift burdens, not to pile them on, and you call those with authority to serve, not to weigh others down. Help me use whatever influence I have over others' burdens to lighten, not to add. Give me eyes to see the chances to ease the loads of those under my authority or in my care, and a heart that uses power to serve and relieve, not to burden. Make me one who lightens burdens, as you do.