socrates meets frigidaire

Galatians 6:1-5

What kind of person does it take to bear burdens?
That depends on the size and/or kind of burden.

Well then, what would it take for a large burden? Describe the person who could move, say, a refrigerator/freezer by himself.
Well, he could take a dolly or hand truck and . . .

By himself, I mean. With no tools. What kind of person could lift that burden?
A rather large person, I would think. With broad shoulders, hands like bricks, arms like tree trunks, I suppose. He must have a broad chest and thick legs. His arms must be able to wrap around the burden, or at least his hands must get a good grip on it.

What about a little girl? Could she bear the burden?
Of course not! She is too small, too frail! A little girl is too delicate and could be injured!

Consider this: what if the refrigerator was full? What would the burly man have to do to move his burden so as not to damage the contents?
Lift carefully and slowly, I imagine. He would need to squat down, grasp tightly, lift carefully, move slowly, replace gently.

Could the little girl move a full refrigerator? Could a little girl handle the burden?
Well, putting it that way, there may perhaps be a way.

How could she bear the burden?
The little girl could move some of the burden, but not all.

How do you imagine that?
She could move the contents of the refrigerator a bit at a time, but not the entire unit at once by itself.

Does the little girl, then, bear the burden?
Certainly, but not all of it.

But she does bear a significant part of it, though it be pieces at a time?
Without doubt.

What ways could the man move the contents and the unit?
He can lift the lift the unit but the contents may not remain intact; or he could unload the unit then move it.

If the two were teamed, would it be beneficial for the man to do all the work for the little girl?
Not if they were expected to work together, no.

Does bearing one another’s burdens mean we must take the full weight of what others bear on ourselves?
If would be nice if one could do that for me . . .

But what of his own burdens?
I am not sure I follow.

If one, who bears his own burdens, takes the entire burden of another on himself, who then bears also the responsibility for the additional burden?
Responsibility belongs to the one to whom the burden belongs.

Is it reasonable for the burden bearer to assume responsibility for the additional burden? If the burden contains consequences, should he be the one to bear the consequences of the additional burden also?
Of course not.

Then what is the ministry of bearing one another’s burdens?
Taking a part of the load, not all of it.

It is expected that one be burden-free before one helps another?
That would be expected, but impossible.

Why?
Because each has his own burden to bear.

And . . .?
If you took all my burden plus your own, you would take twice the load

Like a man lifting a full refrigerator?
Yes--and what damage could occur to the delicacies!

Then what kind of ministry would that be?
An incredible ministry!

Matthew 11:28-30.