Can I Have Some of Yours?

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish and five were wise.  The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.  The wise, 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.  At midnight the cry rang out, ‘Here comes the bridegroom!  Come out to meet him.’ Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’  Matthew 25:1-8

 

Have you ever had one of those friends?  You know the ones- they want you for what you can offer them and are done with you when you have nothing to offer them?  Have you ever been one of those friends?  We all have probably found ourselves on either side of this equation, if we are honest enough to admit it.

This passage is so sad because all ten of the virgins appeared to have what they needed.  But only five had “the goods” that they were able to make a light to find themselves to the groom.  The wise ones have more than they needed.  More of the oil of the Holy Spirit than they needed for that day.  A wise Christian gets as full of the Holy Spirit as possible.  We never know in a given day what kinds of demand will be placed on the anointing of the Spirit in our lives and therefore, we must have more than enough. 

Another thing that always strikes me about the passage is how wonderful it would be if the wise had enough to share with the others.  Obviously, as this parallels the end times, we cannot bring someone else into the rapture by sharing with then.  But up until the time that we go in and the door is shut (figuratively speaking) we need to be sharing with others what we have.  When we share, we inspire others to get their own oil and be ready when the time comes that they must have it or miss out.

When I read this parable I am always arrested by the sadness of it all.  The five foolish were smarter than so many others- they were there, they had brought their lamps, they were hanging with the wise ones.  They had it all together…almost.  Almost is just not enough when it comes to the things of the Spirit.  When the day comes that the church is rejoined with Christ, there will be so many of our loved ones left behind.  So many that almost made it. They came to church.  They joined Sunday school, they carried a Bible and even forwarded Christian related emails and Facebook statuses.  But they did not quite have the relationship with the Lord that is needed.

Our time is so short.  Let us look for opportunities to share the light, to share the oil, to share the faith; one day soon it will be too late.

Dear Lord, help me to be evangelically minded.  Help me lead others to you.  Help me have enough anointing, Spirit and victory to share with others. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri