Where to Invest... a response to a question about the last post

Matt 25:1-11

"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, 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. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'

After my most recent post, a good friend asked me to comment on this passage from Matthew which seems to say the opposite of the passage used in the former post.  Man, I hate it when people think! (Just Kidding, Corey).   Actually, he raised a very good question…  “Hi Bill,
Can you comment on the parable of the 10 virgins and how you see it relating to preparations and readiness? It seems some Christians put all their eggs into "God is coming very soon"- and then they are not prepared for the long haul...but I may need help with that...thoughts?” August 10, 2011 3:52 PM

First, the parable Jesus used in the first posting is intended to remind us to be careful where we  put our trust.  Do we trust our future to God’s care, and love? Or, are we to scramble as though we “are to look out for number one”?  I pointed out that ultimately we humans are called by God to place our trust and hope in Him.  He has promised to care for us and see to our needs.  This frees me to focus on the “One” who can feed my soul and take me into eternity, and to be loving and caring to those whom I meet… and at times even be the one God uses to meet their need.

The parable of the 10 virgins, it seems to me, is more about spiritual preparedness.  Without having to go into the all the details of a 1^st Century Jewish wedding, I want to point out a few things.  The story is a part of a discussion Jesus is having.  In verse 42 Jesus says, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

The first parable is about spending ones time on worry, and distractions that are temporal… our time on earth.  The second is about spending time on what is eternal… our time in Heaven.  Do we invest our time in “getting ahead”?  Or, do we invest our time in knowing and growing in Christ.  The five foolish virgins were looking to make a killing on a short term investment.  Spiritually speaking, they had not spent the time to make sure they had enough oil (some would say that is symbolic of the Holy Spirit).  They were trying to turn it quick… where as the five wise virgins had invested in the long run.  They had made spiritual preparations by investing in a growing relationship with God. 

In applying this to myself, I can see where at times I have been “spiritually short sighted”.  I focus on me, and what I want, rather than on God and my neighbor.  I have to ask myself, at times, what am I investing in… temporary or eternity?

We have all met people who invest in the temporary spirituality… “Give me Jesus because He will make all my problems go away, but don’t ask anything of me.  I don’t have time for religion.”  When times are tough there is no depth to that kind of faith so it amounts to “no faith”.  The point of the parable is “at that time the Kingdom of Heaven” will be like… there will be those who are unprepared for Jesus’ coming because they invested in the gimme, gimme type faith rather than a faith built upon a growing relationship with Jesus.

What do you think?

Grace and Peace

Pastor Bill