The Parable of the Ten Virgins

 

[Jesus said] “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.” (Matthew 25:1-13 ESV).

 

Today as we continue our journey through the parables of Jesus, I just want to remind you of an important principle when interpreting parables, which is that we should not over-interpret them. It is tempting for many scholars and pastors to start reading all kinds of allegorical meanings into parables like this one. I want us to look at those things in the parable that Jesus Himself seems to stress in the way that He relates the parable in the context. With that in mind, ponder these things:

 

§  First, live your life for His “well-done.” One day we will stand before Jesus, either when we leave this earth and go to Him or when He returns for His church.  Prioritizing our lives around that truth can make a huge difference in how we spend our time. Remember, time is our only non-renewable resource. We each have an unknown limited amount of time. Focusing on the “well-done” at the end of our journey helps us decide between better and best. Go for the best!

 

§  Second, the journey is going to take longer than you think it will. The goal is to finish the race, not merely run fast for a bit. Readiness to run the whole race requires a commitment to remaining a willing learner. We won’t be finished until the end. Don’t quit learning. God certainly hasn’t quit teaching.

 

§  Third, don’t be surprised when it costs more than you thought; be prepared to pay the price. I’m glad I didn’t know the cost of following Jesus when I first began. It might have terrified me into paralysis or indecision. This thought also helps keep your eyes on the prize… that of going in with the Bridegroom!

 

One last thing, rest isn’t optional, it’s essential. I’ve heard some say the weakness of the five foolish women was their laziness because they were asleep when the bridegroom came.  Shouldn’t they have been awake and waiting? But ALL ten of them were asleep when he arrived, even those Jesus commended as being wise. Rest is crucial, it’s not optional.  The journey god designs for us is more of a marathon than a sprint regardless of the number of years it takes. Burnout is real. When it’s all said and done, rest is the only cure for burnout, and making rest a regular part of your routine is how you prevent it. Rest comes in the form of worship, fellowship, and study.

 

Tend to your lamps. It is not too late to begin a commitment to readiness! It is going to be a GREAT party at the end!