RIDING ON THE BACK OF SOMEONE!
Psalm 66:12 AMPC
You caused men to ride over
our heads [when we were prostrate]; we went through fire and through water, but
You brought us out into a broad, moist place [to abundance and refreshment and
the open air].
“Riding on the back of
someone” generally means to be carried, supported, or lifted by another person,
often due to need, weakness, or trust. Sometimes, it can also mean relying on
someone else’s strength or abilities rather than one’s own. In spiritual or
biblical contexts, this image is used to symbolize being lifted up, sustained,
helped, or even exalted by God or another person.
When we have an unhealthy
dependence on someone without ever considering that others might be a better
fit for us by God’s design, this becomes problematic.
In ancient cultures, riding
on someone (or something) could symbolize dominion or control. Applied
metaphorically, “riding on someone’s back” could imply using someone to advance
your own goals, which may be viewed negatively if done selfishly.
From a biblical lens, the
meaning depends on intent:
- If it implies
exploitation, it’s discouraged.
- If it reflects support or
care, it’s encouraged.
Have you ever been in a
relationship where it seems you are doing all the lifting? Anything that needs
to be done, they look to you! They need money, they look to you! Why? Because
you’ve always done it before without hesitation or giving anyone else the
chance to do so—or maybe because you have the resources and manpower to do it.
The walk of faith is a walk
of total trust and reliance on God alone and no one else. Riding on someone’s
back implies that we have placed our trust and dependence heavily on someone
other than the Lord and have allowed ourselves to be carried, trusting the
carrier for safety and direction.
Riding on the back of
someone can signal dependence when a person relies on another’s strength,
resources, or achievements to move forward instead of acting independently with
the help of the Lord, as instructed in Proverbs 3:5-6, or even growing in our own
capacities—which may never happen when we depend on others for everything.
The sense of entitlement is
one that allows someone to think they deserve to ride on another’s back because
of pride in who they are, where they come from, or anything else they think is
important. It’s when someone expects to be carried due to a sense of
entitlement, believing that their status or worth means others should serve
them or bear their burdens without reciprocation. In this sense, pride might
manifest as exploiting others’ efforts or accomplishments, take credit, or
refusing to develop self-reliance.
Psalm 54:4 is for everybody,
not just some. We all must learn to look to the Lord for help and depend on Him
to help us without trying to ride on others to achieve whatever we desire to
do.
Biblically, riding on the
back of someone is most often a metaphor for God carrying, uplifting, or
supporting His people, and never a concept to be used to indicate laziness or
taking advantage of others in a negative sense. Sadly, we have a generation of
people who want to ride on others’ backs to climb higher. Psalm 121:2-3
indicates that we only get to where we need to with the help of God. Yet today
we have ministers of the gospel wanting to ride on the back of those they think
have made it to get to the heights they attained. We have businesspeople riding
on the back of others to achieve their goals. We have students who would bribe
teachers and lecturers or copy from their peers or even force them to do their
work so they can live a carefree life.
Simply put, we have people
who do not want to do the work or put in the time, riding on the backs of
others to “make it”.
Psalm 37:5-6 says commit
everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him to help you do it, and He will. Your innocence will be clear to everyone. He
will vindicate you with the blazing light of justice shining down as from the
noonday sun. So, riding on someone’s back by scriptural standard means
accepting help, support, or care from others (or God), especially when one is
weak, tired, or in need—and not to exploit them.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Am I currently depending
on someone more than I depend on the Lord?
- Have I allowed others to
ride on my back in ways that are unhealthy?
- Do I feel entitled to help
or support without giving back or growing?
- What steps can I take to
shift my dependence back to God?
PRAYER: Lord, I acknowledge
that I have sometimes leaned too heavily on others instead of trusting You.
Help me to recognize when my dependence is misplaced. Teach me to walk by faith
and not by convenience or obligation. May I never exploit but always uplift. Amen.
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/womenoflight/episodes/RIDING-ON-SOMEONES-BACK-e37ugfo
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