by David Brenneman
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour." Matthew 25:1-13.
Date setting by many has been a scheme of the devil for centuries.
Matters are made worse by the prolific influx of AI generated miss-information and so-called preachers and influencers trying to make a mockary of the Word of God. They do this in order to dissuade people from coming to Christ or also to just get people to weaken their position on the things of God. Making things 'not that important' to daily life.
Another such way is to get whole generations to re-define what's an idol and what isn't. This isn't a new topic to anyone who's read these posts. It's serious business with God. To think otherwise is to invite ruin to your life.
The Apostles, when writing the New Testament were obeying the words of Jesus we read this morning. They were teaching their churches and congregations to be ready. Life life in such a way that people know that you are eager and waiting to see your Lord and Savior. Many professing Christians in today's world don't live out their faith. They don't want to lose the 'friends' they have or don't want to appear that they don't 'belong'. They are more afraid of offending people than they are of offending the God whom they claim to serve and belong to.
What of you? Which of these subjects to the King are you?
“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 25:14-30.
We're going to be either one of the one's who did something with what we were given by the Spirit or we are going to be one of those who didn't. I don't think in the context of this passage it's referring to the resulting spiritual gifts but it's referring to salvation. A new life was coming that was unexpected when they obeyed their king. All was lost for the 1 who didn't do anything with what he had been entrusted.
We're all given a measure of faith that's more than adequate to come to Christ for salvation. Yet another reason why everyone will be without excuse. Everyone will answer as to why they didn't take this free gift from God for them that was born of the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
For those of us who are Christians.
When you look at your wardrobe or around your home or at your possessions at large...is God glorified by what you have accumulated? Have you indeed taken what belongs to God and given it to the dogs as it's written in Matthew 7:6? Have you joined in with the world aka Satan's world and taken your passion for the things of God and given it to hobbies, people, sports, etc?
It's a real danger in a world of plenty. To give what joy, happiness, etc. that ought to be given to Jesus in thankfulness and give it to things etc.
The world has redefined what worship is but God's Word tells us it's what's owed only to one...Jesus Christ. People worship their children by always only catering to them and neglecting their walk with God. People worship their sports and know more about them, are more passionate about them, are more offended by 'their' team than they are of those who offend our Holy God.
By far this isn't a singular slam on sports or hobbies or family. There's a place for those things in the lives of Believers but in all things Jesus should be first place. There should be no mistaking who has first place in your life. If people see you all dressed up do they know you are a child of God? When they hear you speak do they know you are a child of God?
Are you ready, really ready, as Jesus commanded you to be?
Are you withholding blessing others for various unselfish reasons that you deny exist? Have YOU decided that someone you know in need isn't worthy of any further help because you have already helped them before? Isn't that you sitting in judgement against such people?
God's blessings are to flow through us, they shouldn't stop with us just because we feel more safe and secure in the having of them.
I've known churches that will only help an individual or family one time every so many years. This isn't Biblicaly correct to do.
The Bible says that he who knows the right thing to do and does not do it...sins.
If we see a brother in need...we are to help them.
These kinds of things re-shape our attitude about being ready for Jesus.
We ARE going to give an account of our lives before Jesus...all the useless things we filled our lives with that have nothing at all to do with growing in Christ or of furthering His kingdom...will be burned up. All our time spent wasted is burned up.
Take stock of your life today.
Take a good look at who's really getting the worship in your life.
Romans 12:1 says "Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual service of worship."
"But what do I do with all the things that I have that did take my eyes off Jesus?"
Easy. My personal route is to toss them in the trash. I don't want them to become a snare for someone else. I don't care how much it cost me. We shouldn't hand our stumbling stones to someone else to stumble over.
Would Jesus say that you were taking up your own cross to follow Him? I ask this of myself as well.
Forget setting a date and run from those who do. However, follow the orders of the King of Kings AND BE READY.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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