Sometimes the message is in what Jesus didn't say!

I hate to sound like a broken record but let's take yet another look at the question of whether Christianity more closely resembles capitalism or socialism.

By now you know my method.  Look for confirmation of a concept in both the Old T and the New T.  I also give additional weight to the words of Jesus himself.  I find that sometimes part of the message is in what Jesus didn't say.  Here is an example.

Matthew 25:1-10(NKJV)

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 

Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 

Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 

but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 

But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 

Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 

And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 

But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

What is the main concept of socialism?  From each according to his ability to each according to his need.  Many believe that that is the message of Christianity as well.  So let's take a look at these words of Jesus from within that frame of reference. 

As you can see Jesus starts the story by telling us that half of the virgins were wise and the other half were foolish.  Now the wise being wise, they came prepared with oil for their lamps.  When the time came to light the lamps, the foolish girls didn't have any oil. 

According to socialist doctrine the wise should have shared their oil with the foolish since the wise had the ability to plan ahead and now the foolish had a need.  But is that what Jesus said?  Nope!  Here is what Jesus said in this situation. 

"But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ " 

In other words go get your own.  Not my problem that you didn't plan ahead.  Those were the words of Jesus. 

I would point out also that Jesus didn't condemn the actions of the wise either.  That is what I mean by part of the message is in what Jesus didn't say.  So it would seem to me that the actions of the wise were moral…and Christian.