Wednesday 16^th January

Matthew 25:1-13

As we read yesterday, in one of the parables in Jesus’ Olivet discourse, the King (Jesus) will soon come again and take His bride (the Church) to be with Him at His wedding banquet. We learnt that no-one knows the time when He will return but it’s in the preparation that we are to be equipped and ready.

There is however, another significant lesson that can be learnt to complete the understanding of this wonderful parable. Let’s draw our attention to the reaction of the 5 foolish virgins upon hearing the announcement that the groom was coming and the procession would soon be with them.

We read in verse 7 that all the virgins upon awakening, immediately set to prepare themselves for the coming procession by filling their lamps with oil. The problem was that the 5 foolish virgins didn’t bring enough to re-light their lamps. Now watch their reactions in verse 8. They ask the 5 wise virgins for more oil as theirs will soon go out. The problem that lies here is that if the 5 wise virgins were to give their oil away then there literally wouldn’t be enough for all 10 of them to make their journey. In other words, simply put, the 5 wise virgins could not spare any of their oil.

At a first glance, their reaction could be deemed selfish but actually when you think it about it, it’s common sense. You can’t always share with others what you do not have. The simple thing for the 5 foolish women was to go to the shop and buy some more. However we read in verse 10, that while they were out, the groom came and they were locked out of the wedding banquet.

 The lesson I want to highlight from the foolish virgins attitudes, is their reliance on the wise virgins. They expected that they would be able to use the wise virgins resource. Instead of being ready themselves they thought that they could rely on the others. Yet the fact is that they couldn’t and they were left to face the consequence of their own unprepared actions.

 The truth is today that we too so often rely on others for our salvation or to feed us the milk we think we need. We still are on the weaning stages in our walk with Christ and our reliance on others takes away the needs of our own preparations and self-searching. The truth is, much like the 5 foolish virgins, is that when the time comes to be counted in joining in with the Bridal procession, your own preparations will leave you wanting if you have relied on some one else bringing extra oil. The decisions that we make in our lives determine our walk with God. We can’t rely on others to get us in the Kingdom, (although that doesn’t mean that we should stop praying for those who are not saved), our relationship with God is something that is personal, precious and requires a lifetime of self-seeking to prepare our hearts for the coming Groom. Don’t live a comfortable life spending your resources on worldly and material possessions, neglecting your Spiritual investments and relying on others to drag you into the Kingdom of God. Rather invest your resources into your own life first making sure that you are ready for Christ’s return (again this is not say that we should not pray or help others but the emphasis is on self preparation first!).

“But if the servant is evil and thinks ‘My Master wont be back for a while’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying and getting drunk? The Master will soon return unannounced and unexpected, ……. and assign him a place with the hypocrites.” Matthew 25:48-50 (NLT)

Be ready…Search your own Heart!