Gathering and Giving

             Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. (Proverbs 6:6-7)

 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matthew 25:1-13)

 

          Some people seem to think that both having faith in God and trusting Him for His provision and being unselfish mean doing nothing to your own benefit. If you have faith, you don’t need a doctor, or a job, or whatever. But today’s first passage is one of many that make it clear that God doesn’t exempt us from taking care of ourselves and our families. Not only should we do what we can, with what we have, where we are, now, but we’re to look to the future and prepare for it, especially if that preparation will allow us to help others.

          The second passage above suggests that wisdom may lead us to not share with others, especially if the others don’t take care of their own needs and responsibilities.  This is not to suggest that we shouldn’t be generous. I think the real idea here may be (or include) that we should be industrious and responsible, but not allow ourselves to be “guilted” into doing something that is ultimately detrimental to all involved or unhelpful.