To Be Silly or Smart?It’s Up To You!
To Be Silly or Smart, It’s Up to You!
Pastor John Soshea
Matt 25:1 “God’s kingdom is like ten young virgins who took oil lamps and went out to greet the bridegroom. 2 Five were silly and five were smart. (the KJV says five were wise and five were foolish…) 3 The silly virgins took lamps, but no extra oil. 4 The smart virgins took jars of oil to feed their lamps. 5The bridegroom didn’t show up when they expected him, and they all fell asleep. 6 “In the middle of the night someone yelled out, ‘He’s here! The bridegroom’s here! Go out and greet him!’ 7 “The ten virgins got up and got their lamps ready. 8 The silly virgins said to the smart ones, ‘Our lamps are going out; lend us some of your oil.’ 9 “They answered, ‘There might not be enough to go around; go buy your own.’ 10 “They did, but while they were out buying oil, the bridegroom arrived. When everyone who was there to greet him had gone into the wedding feast, the door was locked. 11 “Much later, the other virgins, the silly ones, showed up and knocked on the door, saying, ‘Master, we’re here. Let us in.’ 12 “He answered, ‘Do I know you? I don’t think I know you.’ (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language ? 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
The parable of the ten virgins is a powerful reminder to us of how we too need to be kingdom minded?It is a testimony to the importance of watching and waiting for the return of our Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ who promises to come again for those who watch and wait?for those who have prepared themselves for His return.
The virgins (representing purity of heart, mind and body) are likened unto we who are called to be a part of the Bride of Christ. Just as we are told to watch and wait for the coming of the bridegroom, Jesus Christ, each of them was waiting for their bridegroom to return as well. At the beginning of the story, each of the virgins looks beautiful and is prepared for his coming?they had their wedding garments on, they had the lamps in their hands, and there was a flame within those lamps?The question I would ask of us is, are we ready? Is there a flame in your lamp?but beyond that, do you have enough oil (an allegory for the spirit) for tomorrow?
Had the bridegroom come at the beginning of our story, all of the ten could have entered joyfully into the wedding feast, but the wise bridegroom chooses to wait. Because of that, it is easy to see who are the wise and who are the foolish, who are the silly and who are the smart, both among these virgins from the story in Matthew, and amongst those of us who are invited to the wedding feast (an allegory to being in the eternal presence of the Lord), to be a part of the bride of Christ today. The five of the virgins who were called wise and the five who were called foolish both had the opportunity to make their choice. Their response to that choice is the reason for the distinction between them. It is the same as the difference between some of the people who are called Christians today?some have prepared for tomorrow, they have their spiritual houses in order, seeking the Lord with their whole heart, mind, soul and strength, but there are others who live only for today. The decision to live according to the former or the latter is one that each of us must make every day as well.
So will I be wise or will I be foolish, will I be silly, or will I be smart?The answer to that is found in whether or not you make the spiritual preparations to have your house in order?Friend, what are your desires, what is your attitude, what is your choice today? Will you be wise or foolish?
Message Synopsis by Sue Keller and edited by Pastor John Soshea
Recommended Posts
Harvest Party October 31, 2022
October 19, 2022
Streaming Service at 10AM
March 29, 2020
VBS is Coming Soon!
May 23, 2018