Organizing the Inside – Day 122 The Last-Minute Oil Crisis

January 3, 2012 at 9:00 am · Filed under Faith, Inspiration, Relationship, Wisdom, Women's Ministry and tagged: Christianity, Kingdom of Heaven, Religion and Spirituality

1“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaidswho took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6“At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ 7“All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ 9“But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ 10“But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ 12“But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ 13So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.”

It’s not smart to wait until the last-minute to prepare.
There are many people who think they have plenty of time to get right with God. After reading the story of the bridesmaids it should be crystal clear that procrastinating on what God has told you to do is just not a good idea. As Jesus told this parable He gives specific insight on how to make sure you are ready when He returns.
1. Prepare now
2. Stay ready
3. Keep watch

The oil represents a state of readiness.
Jesus mentioned that five of the bridesmaids took extra provisions of oil. We can relate this to those who take an extra effort to make sure they stayed in fellowship with God by doing His will. The five foolish bridesmaids brought with them only what they thought was just enough. They are like those who halfheartedly do only, what they think is, the minimum to get by. They seem to serve God but really their heart is not in it and they are far from Him. They are like those who invest nothing extra in time, energy, prayer, study or worship and as a result they did not have enough oil to sustain the light when the bridegroom was delayed.

They underestimated what it took to be ready.
Like many people who underestimate just how important maintaining a true relationship with God is. Now the foolish bridesmaids want to get help from the ones who invested time, prayer, focus and energy in their relationship and actually did God’s will. But they are told, it’s been a long wait and I can’t help you , I only have enough for me. Go buy your own oil. …work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12 No one else can save you, that is between you and the Lord.

The foolish decide to make a last-minute purchase.
They are like the people who think they can wait until the last-minute, right before Jesus returns before they get it right. Surely that is a huge gamble and in the case of the foolish bridesmaids they ran out of time. While they were out trying to buy last-minute oil in a crisis, they found that they missed out on the one opportunity they had, because they were not prepared.

Those that were ready went right in to celebrate being united with the bridegroom.
But those who weren’t ready,  interestingly enough, when they returned and found the door was locked, they called out, “Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!” They actually thought they could still get in, but listen to what Jesus said, the bridegroom’s response was, “Believe me, I do not know you.”
Sounds familiar, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. Matthew 7:21

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