No Kerosene
“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 25:1-13)
Today’s Morsel: One of my dear missionary friends was once telling me a story about his mission’s field of labor. He said that he had one of his national ministers -in-training ministering one Sunday morning to the congregation in that country. And that he had assigned him Matthew 25:1-13, for his text to develop his message. And then he said that as the minister began to minister the Word of God and to relate the story of the Ten virgins, to get his point across, because he knew that the congregation may not understand what he was talking about if he just said oil, he used the word kerosene. And so, he said to the people, that the foolish virgins took no kerosene with them, as that was what most people used in their lamps in the villages where they lived and they would understand what he was talking about.
Jesus, in relating this parable, stated that all ten virgins received the same call and they each went forth. But five of them were wise and five were foolish. The five wise took extra oil and the foolish did not. While they waited, Jesus said they slumbered and slept. But when the call came to go meet the bridegroom, the foolish realized that they had no oil to light their lamps. And so, when they went to buy more, they missed the entrance with the bridegroom. This is an interesting parable. The only difference I find between the wise and foolish is the extra oil. I think that Jesus’ parable was more than just a story for the disciples, but it was a story against the religious leaders for failing to obey the law and ensuring that the people were following His word to be ready and keep them prepared for His coming. As the law of Moses stated to the priest: “And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.” (Exodus 27:20-21) We must never let the light go out in the temple.
Sing: This little Light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little Light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Thought For Today: Always make sure that you got some kerosene.
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