Oil

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

OIL

Matt 25:1-13

25:1 "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!' 12 "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' 13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

NIV

We know because this is a parable of what the kingdom of heaven will be like these words have absolutely nothing to do with virgins and a bridegroom, or any wedding feast. However, in some sense it is about the wedding feast in heaven, as we are the bride of Christ. Yet he speaks of the oil in the lamps. This could well be the gospel in our hearts, or those who truly enjoy God and his grace.  The bridegroom is no doubt Jesus. The ten virgins surely would represent the church, or those who are followers of Jesus. This concept of five being prepared and five not is the central theme of this parable. This would give us an opportunity for some self-examination. Are we like the five who have the true oil, the pure gospel of love in our hearts to keep it burning bright, or have we allowed the flame of the gospel to go out or grow dim? The five ready are those who do enjoy their relationship with God and his grace, his divine influence on our hearts. They are the ones who rejoice in knowing he has done everything for their salvation and they are the true followers, listening and doing that which God has called them to. They are looking forward to the day of his return. The foolish ones are those who do not truly desire to see his coming just yet. They have become distracted by this life. They are not pure followers of Christ, but merely appear to be religious but do not have the pure joy of the gospel in their hearts. They may even be the good deeds people, looking to the things they do as being the righteous acts which denotes them as followers. But it is the oil, the pure grace and love of God or faith which works in love, which needs to be burning in our hearts. If we use that which James says that faith without works is dead faith, then it is this faith, this oil which burns with the work of love. This would then look like this:

Luke 10:27

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

NIV

All deeds should be a result of love. God so loved us is the reason he sent Jesus in the first place. He has loved us from the very beginning when he formed us from the dust of the earth and breathed his very breath into us. Everything God does is because of love. The oil in our lamps, the love of God keeps our lamps burning. We used to sing that song:

Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning

Give me oil in my lamp, I pray

Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning

Keep me burning till the break of day

The break of day is the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. So then let us keep the flame trimmed and burning brightly. Let us be found ready for his return. Let us not allow the flame to grow dim because of the lack of the love of God in our hearts. Let us not allow the world to diminish our flame or be a cause for us not have enough of the love of God in our hearts.