Being Wise Virgins

In Matt 25 Jesus taught about the importance of being a wise virgin. In His teaching He contrasts 5 foolish virgins with 5 wise virgins. All 10 were virgins, all 10 had lamps, all 10 were waiting for the bridegroom, and all 10 slumbered as the bridegroom was delayed.

The only difference in this story is that 5 are counted wise because they had oil for their lamps; the unwise had no oil. The five wise were received into the chamber with the bridegroom, but not the 5 foolish.

There has been much teaching for many years on this parable, today I am looking at how we can learn from this and be wise. The 5 wise were ready and prepared, they had oil. We know oil speaks of the Holy Spirit and of anointing. The word wise has in it the sense of being prudent, where foolish means dull and heedless.

If we want to be ready we must be prudent. How can we be prudent? There are a couple thoughts that come to mind. In the Gospels and in Revelation we are told to have a spiritual ear, to hear what the Spirit is saying. In Rom 8:5-7 we are exhorted to be spiritually minded, which is life, and not to be carnally minded, which is death.

If we simply go through the motions we can become dull, this can represent being religious. A stronger way to say this is to look at 2 Tim 3:5 which speaks of having a form of godliness, but denying its power. The contrast to a religious practice is to have a relationship, a living and active and real relationship with Jesus. John 15 speaks of abiding, which can be translated "vitally united" or "maintaining a living communion."

Let us take heed and listen to the Spirit. Let us be active and real in our relationship with Jesus; because, it's through our relationship with Jesus and being connected to Him that we will have life (John 10:10). May we all be wise virgins and keep our lamps filled with oil.

God bless you all.