Several of the talks earlier this month focused on or referenced the Parable of the Ten Virgins (bridesmaids). AI provides this summary:
The Parable of the Ten Virgins, found in Matthew 25:1-13 (KJV), tells of ten virgins who took their lamps to meet the bridegroom. Five were wise and brought extra oil, while five were foolish and did not; when the bridegroom arrived, only the wise virgins were ready and entered the wedding feast.
What that AI summary doesn’t mention is that the virgins knew beforehand that they needed to carry extra oil.
And what struck me as I have pondered this parable and the talks it inspired this month is that the virgins were not described as wicked. They were foolish. They were lacking in good sense or judgment. Silly.
Immediately prior to His teaching of the Parable of the Ten Virgins, as well as the instructive parables of the talents and the sheep and the goats, the Savior prophesies of the great calamities to precede His return and also shares the Parable of the Fig Tree.
Would the wise not see the parallels to our time? Would the foolish be fooled?
It is foolish not to be prepared, and especially when the Savior has counseled us to do so.
It is foolish not to believe the Bridegroom, the Savior, will return.
It is foolish to suggest that the oil could be shared. Each bridesmaid was responsible to provide her own oil and carry the necessary reserve to provide light through the night. If they shared that oil, they wouldn’t be able to meet their own needs.
It is foolish to delay.
It is foolish to think the Bridegroom or one of the other bridesmaids would open the door and let them in.
Of course, we understand the basic admonition. Be prepared. Even though it seems like the Savior delays His return, He is coming. Don’t delay. Don’t plan on someone else to provide what you should do yourself.
But how else might we apply this parable to our lives?
Before the bridegroom arrived, the wise could share their light, knowledge, and skills. But not the oil. When things collapse, if there is no literal door and we can still interact with the foolish, we’ll be doing everything old school. There will quite possibly be less or no electricity. Less kilowatt slaves for washing dishes and clothes. For grinding wheat or kneading bread. For providing water or refrigeration.
Time for teaching and helping the foolish who chose not to prepare will be nearly non-existent. Women will be consumed with preparing food and washing clothes all day long. That’s how it was in the 1800s. All day, every day. Men will be earning an income and providing security. There will be no internet. Even if we have a well and a hand pump (and most people don’t), that will take time. Providing water alone will take monumental effort. Today’s simple tasks become tomorrow’s time sucks.
Could the “wise” also be foolish in thinking that they’ll be able to so easily help the latter? The five wise virgins realized they could not help the foolish. They couldn’t share the oil and they couldn’t open the door. Were they wise because they realized the time had passed for helping them? I don’t know.
Those who think they will have one last minute run to the store or opportunity to stock up are sadly deceived. Which side of the door will we be on?
I know I’m preaching to the choir here. I also think it’s a great time to review Matthew chapters 24-26. We can never be too prepared spiritually or temporally.
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