The Parable of the Ten Virgins

Matthew 25 1:13 reads, "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

7 Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'

9 '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.'

10 "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.

11 Later the others also came. 'Lord, Lord,' they said, 'open the door for us!'

12 But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.'

13 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."

When I read this, I feel really bad for the virgins without oil.  I feel that if this was me, I would share my oil and if we both missed the party, then so be it.

All of us has a light within us.  But in order to let that light shine, we need to fuel the light, seeking after things that are good, like peace, joy and self discipline.  These holy things are represented by the oil that keeps our light shining.

There are people in the world that do not care for their own spirit.  They do not seek after oil.  When they are drained, they come to us.  It takes a lot of wisdom to know who we are really helping when we offer our abundance to those in need.

In whose life are we really making a difference and who are we enabling so that they do not do for themselves what they can do for themselves?

Galatians 6:1 reads "Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted."

I knew a drug addict and alcoholic, who one day decided to leave the partying behind.  People would leave free drugs and alcohol on her doorstep, hoping that she would return to her old life.

We are compassionate human beings.  When we see someone without food, we would happily give them some food to eat.  When we see someone cold, we would gladly share our coats.

I hear these 3 cautions within this parable.  Be careful of what you share, only sharing from an abundance, otherwise you will not have enough for your own self care.  Be careful of where you share, because in some circumstances, what appears to be helping may actually hurt.  Finally, be careful of whom you share with, because they may end up bringing you down with them.

<SI> Scott Izu, PhD

Copyright December 2019

Perspective in the Midst of Trials

James 1 reads...

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:

Greetings.

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

The first thing I hear in this chapter of James is a curse.  Unfortunately, God has filled this world with both curses and blessings and I always perk up my ears when a curse or blessing is revealed.  Nehemiah 1:5-11 contains a prayer describing the curse to be scattered among nations:

“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you.7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’

10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”

Most people, at some point in their life, experience a time when God's curse may seem impossible to live through.  During this time, each moment seems unbearable and emotions flood through one's mind in an overwhelming manner.  So how can we endure such times?  James offers some tips on how to modify one's perspective.

1. First, we can have a joyful perspective.  This can help us to avoid trying to escape a trial but accept is as an important season in our life.  It may not make sense to most people, but I believe one can be in miserable circumstances (uncomfortable, mourning, struggling) but still have joy and gratitude.  We may have joy because we know that trials will lead to maturity, wisdom and increased faith.
2. Second, we can have an eternal perspective.  In other words, we can realize that all comforts in this world are fleeting.  Jonah 4:6-10 reminds us that comforts are fleeting... 6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” 9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” 10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight.  When sticking to your moral compass or struggling with some temptation, it can seem like you are missing out.  Others might even call you closed minded, indicating that you are closing the door on some opportunity.  However, no matter what you choose, you will close a door, closing yourself off either to the fleeting comfort which yielding to temptation brings or to the crown of life which standing your ground brings.  For instance, how can one ever mentor young men in battling sexual temptation if one has never faced and overcome those temptations.  Maybe early on in life, a sexual conquest might seem more rewarding than a life long relationship and the significance that comes from mentoring a young man.  1 John 2:15-17 also states 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
3. Third, we can have a clarified perspective.  Sometimes we think that it is our friends, our partner or even God who has brought calamity upon us.  However, if we know that it is the devil who tempts, this can help us in our fight.
1. First of all, when we do fall to temptation, we tend to label ourselves.  However, it is important to know that we already had that evil within our hearts.  The action did not change us.  As an example, a murderer was a murderer long before he committed murder.  The action of murder only revealed the evil within the murderer's heart.  Understanding this will help us to avoid shame and guilt which the devil can use to keep us paralyzed instead of moving forward on a redemptive path.  If one moves forward through healing, cleansing and purification, a sort of gratitude can occur that simply would not be possible if such evil were not revealed in the first place.  We all are human, after all, and evil exists somewhere within our hearts and desires.  No one can claim complete purity but everyone can move towards it.
2. Second, when we know who the enemy is, we can fight that enemy and knowing the enemy and who to fight gives a better chance of success on the battle field.
In my life, I have experienced death.  Death to me looks like wandering around in a place far from home, becoming a foreigner in a strange land, being fueled by pursuit of fleshly desires and considering prostitution as a way to fulfill desires of intimacy, companionship and significance.  Knowing that I never want to go back to that place of death can sometimes help me to resist temptations that gave birth to my own personal sin in the first place and which eventually lead to my own personal death.

<SI> Scott Izu, PhD
Copyright July 2018