MATTHEW 25:1-13 – Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose 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, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
THEME OF THE DAY. FOOLISH OR WISE CHRISTIANS? Today’s scripture is known as “The Parable of the Ten Virgins.” Within this teaching of our Lord are two categories of people; the foolish and the wise. And in it are two important spiritual lessons for all of us. One is in the form of a warning. The other is that of reward. But the overall principle to take away is “Be prepared for the Lord’s coming.” Let’s start with the negative.
The parable starts out with a certain truth – the Bridegroom or the Lord Jesus is coming. Not might but is. The question unanswered is when. Neither the foolish or wise virgins knew the exact timing and each group responded differently. The first, the foolish people, made two fatal spiritual mistakes. First, they failed to prepare for His coming. They simply let the cares of the world and self-interests ignore the truth He was coming. Notice they did not deny His coming. That led to their second fatal spiritual mistake. They allowed the delay in His coming to lull them into spiritual slumber. Suddenly, the Lord came, and they were not ready. Friends, we are liable to the same condition if we fail to watch for His return. The Apostle John exhorts us . . . . “And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming” (1 John 2:28). Imagine living for ourselves and the world without thinking on Christ’s return and He comes. John says we may experience shame at His return. Let this be a strong warning for us to daily think and live considering the Lord’s return.
The second group of virgins were known as the wise. Despite the Lord’s delay in coming, they remained on guard and watching for Him. His promise of coming held a strong hold on their hearts and lives. And here is the important lesson. These wise people placed faith in what the Lord said and not what their feeble sense saw. Faith in God’s Word overcame the power of sense caused by visible sight of His delay. For us? We live by God’s Word not by feelings, emotions, or what our senses say. Foolish Christians live by sight. Wise Christians live by faith. Let’s strive to be in the latter group so when the Lord comes, He will find us prepared for that glorious day of giving up faith for sight.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to guard my heart and live each day as if Jesus may come on that day”
QUOTE: “Daily spiritual watchfulness will someday be rewarded, but a lack will be met with sadness and loss.”