Shopping Anyone?

“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.’  “‘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.’ Matthew 25:1-8

We talked yesterday about the importance of having enough oil (representing the presence and anointing of the Holy Spirit) not only for yourself, but to have enough to share with others.  Today, we will look at the flip side of the same coin- the importance on not relying on others for the oil.  Have you ever been hurt, sick or disappointed and your mind immediately rushed to locate the one person you believe can get a hold of Jesus on your behalf?  Have you ever asked someone to pray and give you advice about what they think the Lord would have you to do?

Those of us who have Godly, consistent and trustworthy prayer partners are indeed blessed.  How wonderful to have a Christian brother or sister help to bear your burden.  But at the end of the day, we have all had the experience of not being able to get help from someone else.  There are times that the Lord puts us in a position that we will have to hear from him ourselves.  There are times that the only “word” you can get from God will be found within the pages of His Word- the Bible.  As a child of God, you have to know how to read the Bible and hear from God for yourself.  You will have to develop a fruitful prayer life where you can hear the Lord’s leading yourself.

In this passage, the need to be ready for the return of the groom is so crucial, so imperative, that the virgins could not risk giving away some of their oil.  In these last days, times are hard and we need every bit of the presence of God we can receive to make it through.

Another interesting point to the verse for today is that they would need to buy oil for themselves.  They needed to make their own sacrifice.  The presence of the Holy Spirit is something that will come as you give up TV time to pray. It will come when you give up an hour’s sleep to be in your Word.  Having a rich relationship with the Lord will cost you something.  So many times we envy someone else’s anointing but we are not willing to do what they did to get it.  We want to leach strength, direction and peace from the price that they paid.

Child of God, go buy your own oil! It is precious, it is worth the cost.  It is too important a matter to leave it up to your friends and prayer partners.  I am married to a wonderful man.  Sometimes he (like me) can forget things.  When we are leaving on a trip, if I want to make sure the Grandma’s know what medication our four year old needs, I feel I need to do it myself.  I don’t want to risk him, or someone else forgetting.  We put emphasis and go the extra mile to ensure that the important matters of life are taken care of.  Are you going the distance to have the power and presence of God in your life?  If not, let today be the day you go to the spiritual ‘store’ and purchase some oil.

Dear Lord, thank you for your Spirit.  I know I can never earn it or demand more of your presence in my life.  But I ask that you honor my efforts to spend time in your presence and multiply back to me the amount I need to make it though until you return for me. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri