Is Your Lamp Without Oil?

August 12, 2020

“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ 7 “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ 9 “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ 12 “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ 13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return. – Matthew 25:1-13

Ask yourself, “Is your lamp without oil?” Are you letting the cares of this world and the desires and issues of man stop you from preparing, from making sure you have oil for your lamp? Are you going about this world to and fro carrying your lamp without access to the oil needed to fill it?

This parable strikes me in a couple of ways. The first is that every bridesmaid had a lamp. They all had the same opportunity. Some chose to understand what they needed to do and others did not. Some were described as wise. Wise as an adjective means having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgment. Wise as a verb means become alert to or aware of something. Are we wise in this day? Are we aware of what God is doing? Are we seeking after the knowledge of what He wants to do in this day and age? We are not here in 2020 by accident. Each one of us was appointed to live in this time through these issues and circumstances. Each one of us has the capacity to do more, to be a force for the kingdom, and to play a part in the story God is telling. The story that is 2020.

The parable described the other bridesmaids as foolish. Foolish is defined as having or showing a lack of good sense, judgment, or discretion. It also means lacking forethought or caution. I don’t think anyone will disagree that we are living in times full of foolishness. Where are we in all of that? Are we living these times relying on our own good sense or the good sense of God? Are we seeking the forethought and guidance of the Holy Spirit or are we just reacting to what we face? Can we see the bigger picture and understand how the choices we make impact our sphere of influence? Are we contributing to the foolishness? Running around with our lamps, acting on our own whims even as the light in our lamps grows dim? Do we seek first ourselves, our politics, our race, or our pride instead of seeking first the kingdom of God? Because if we are seeking first the kingdom of God then our primary concern is keeping oil in our lamp.

The second thing that strikes me is that in verse 5 it says when the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. It seems to me that is what has happened to the church. We have become drowsy and fallen asleep. Because we were sleeping our world has moved further away from God and we have not fought back against the giants of darkness, instead, we have allowed them to rise and grow. In doing so, generations have been affected. Now we are awakened and we have an opportunity to stand our position until the bridegroom returns. But what will we do with the time? Will we charge against the darkness of this world with a lamp but no oil? Are we going to be continued to be lulled to sleep by focusing on the world instead of Jesus? Or are we going to make sure we have a jar ready to receive the oil that is being poured out to all the saints who are standing ready, listening, seeking, and preparing? Now is the time to make sure we are getting our oil. Now is the time to be in our prayer closets seeking more of God, studying and meditating on His Word, and chasing boldly after the things which He has entrusted to us. Taking back territory, sharing the gospel, and understanding that we are the ones who walk in victory so we need to start acting like it.

I don’t know about you, but when Jesus comes back, I want my lamp to be bright and my jar of oil to be full. So I ask you, which bridesmaid will you be?