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
