Five Lessons From the Parable of the 10 Virgins
written by Rajiv Chelladurai
1. Be aware or beware - These brides to-be were aware of what was to be: the bridegroom would come. They were dressed. They all had lamps. They were even at the right place. We the church, the bride of Christ, should be aware because Jesus has made it sufficiently clear that He is coming back for His bride.
2. Extra is what makes extraordinary - What stood out was that five wise ones had extra oil. Matthew 25:4-5 says “The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.” They were prepared for a long wait and a sudden arrival of the bridegroom, while the five others had a lamp with limited oil. The supply of oil could refer to our love for God that causes our lamp of faith to burn. A love that isn't cold or lukewarm but that is hot.
Revelation 3:15-16 says “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
The wait for the bridegroom’s return could dampen our faith. The temptation to be distracted or succumb to drowsiness could negatively impact the quality of our faith.
3. The wise are prepared for the suddenly - When the call was made that the bridegroom had arrived, those who were prepared trimmed their lamps with the oil that they brought along, while the other five realised that they had run out of oil. They asked if they could borrow oil but that wasn't a possibility. In desperation, they rushed out at midnight to buy oil. Midnight here refers to an unexpected time, a suddenly. These five are called foolish because they weren’t prepared; they didn’t do what they were supposed to be doing when they had the opportunity to do so. Now is our opportunity! Are we doing what we are supposed to be doing?
4. Being half-hearted shuts the door -
Matthew 25:9-10 says “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. The door was shut, their fate was sealed, and their opportunity wasted. Half-heartedness causes us to lose divine opportunities.
5. It’s all or nothing - The five foolish virgins did a few things right but they didn’t do the most important thing, which was to be prepared right up to the moment the bridegroom came. As we look around the world, the writing is truly on the wall: the Bridegroom, King Jesus’s return is at hand. He is coming back for His bride, which is us. We are not in the last days but perhaps in the last minutes. The question is are you and me, His bride, ready?
