Always be prepared…or suffer the consequences.

I've always loved this parable.  Be prepared.  And if you are not prepared, those who are prepared are not required to bail your dumb behind out!

Matthew 25:1-13(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.

“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 

But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

Notice that Jesus doesn't say the virgins who are prepared should share with the virgins who aren't.  Notice also that Jesus doesn't condemn those who don't share. 

Now there seems to be a bit of a dichotomy here doesn't there?  On the one hand we are to share with those in need.  But here the virgins were clearly in need of oil.  So why weren't the prepared virgins instructed to share with the unprepared? 

One thought that I have is that when Scripture says share with those in need it is talking about the bare essentials to sustain life.  What the Bible isn't talking about is sharing in paying the cable bill, the mortgage, the cell phone bill etc. 

Just a thought.