The Parables of My Life: The Wise Virgins

The Parables of My Life:  The Wise Virgins

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

The parable of the wise and foolish virgins is another parable about the Kingdom of God.  Remember, “The Kingdom is God’s rule or reign.  We come into that Kingdom when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  When we make Him our Lord, we allow Him to rule over us by being obedient to His word.  In our obedience, His glory and honor are apparent.  The Church is the Kingdom of God manifested on earth.”

Matthew 25:1-13 (NKJV) "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'
Then all those virgins arose 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, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”

One of the many lessons of this parable is about missed opportunities to serve and to fellowship with our Lord because we are unprepared.

All ten virgins had been invited to meet the bridegroom.  All ten had lamps.  All ten slumbered and slept.  The difference lay in their preparedness.  Five had oil and five had none. 

In scripture, oil often represents the Holy Spirit.  While the Holy Spirit indwells all believers, we do not always avail ourselves of His power and direction in our lives.  He is our Helper (John 14:16). He is the one who leads us into all truth (John 16:13).  He imparts to us the spiritual gifts as described in 1 Corinthians 12.  His presence allows the fruit of the spirit to enrich our lives (Galatians 5:22-23).  He empowers us to do the work of the Kingdom (Acts 1:8).

Attempting to do the Lord’s work with no oil in our lamps leads to frustration, despair, missed opportunities and burn out.  It is imperative that we keep our lamps full. 

In 1 Kings 17, we read the story of Elijah and the widow.  Her flour and oil were continually replenished as she used them to feed her family and the prophet.  Obedience to the Lord kept her supply replenished.  In our obedience, He will supply our need (Philippians 4:19).

Prayerful meditation on the Word will also keep us ready and willing to serve as the Lord would have us serve. The psalmist wrote, “I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word” (Psalm 119:99-101 NKJV).  

  

Worship will cause our cups of oil to overflow.  Declaring to the Lord His glory, majesty and power lifts us to higher ground. Living on that higher ground empowers us to meet our Bridegroom in every circumstance of our lives.

At church camp, we used to sing “Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning.”  The biblical truth is that in the Holy Spirit we do have oil for our lamps.  It is us to us to replenish that oil through obedience, service, meditation, worship and fellowship with our Lord. Even though they slumbered, the wise virgins were prepared for the arrival of the Bridegroom.