The Super Wise

Where will you be when the lights go out?  In the dark?

The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise replied, 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' - Matthew 25:8-9

It isn't often in a parable that we find a clear indication of who is wise and who is foolish, but here, in this one, we do.

Jesus tells us the bridesmaids who run out of oil are foolish and the ones who have enough but are unwilling to share, are wise.

The unwillingness to share is the part I get stuck on.  Is it wise to think of oneself first, to share only from the excess?

I guess that makes sense.  If I have enough for me and more, you can have some of what I have left over, but in this case, there will never be excess.  The bridesmaids have no idea how long the trip will be to the house of the groom, so they do not know how much oil they need to keep the lamps lit.

There will never be any oil to share.

Isn't that how we look at our own situations?  If we have enough for us and there is some left over, you can have that.  I will offer you help from what I do not need, not from what I need.

In the parable, wisdom refers only to the fact that some thought ahead.  They were prepared.  The foolish were not.  That is a simple message, and I guess the fact that the wise bridesmaids wouldn't share is not the point.

We expect people to give from their excess and not from their needs.  Those who have enough for themselves are considered wise.

What about those who plan to have more than they need and expect to share?  How do we classify them?  Are they super wise?  Or are they foolish?

I offer a third group of bridesmaids for your consideration, a group that brought more oil than they needed for their lamps, and offered to share.

These would be the super wise bridesmaids, the ones who know there are some who will be prepared and some who will not, but they want all to partake in the kingdom.

This is where I feel we need to be, among those who seek salvation for all.

I guess one could get tired of being the one who thinks ahead and has the solution ready, but that may be a special trait, something a few are called to do.

Is that where you see yourself?

As I get ready this day to meet the world, I will think about these bridesmaids and remember that some will face the day unprepared.  Perhaps I can be ready to help them.

More to come...