“The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.” Mattthew 25:1-4 New Living Translation
Most of you know this parable. Ten bridesmaids were asked to attend a lamp lit wedding celebration. The groom came a little later than expected. The five bridesmaids who brought extra oil had lit lamps that were ready for the procession. The other, unprepared bridesmaids ran out of oil and missed out on the celebration.
This year, instead of Advent Candles on the altar, I am using five accurate reproductions of the kind of little clay lamp that was common in Jesus’ time. They are surprisingly small. As a matter of fact, the whole lamp nestles easily into the palm of my hand. They hold less than a ¼ cup of olive oil and I can personally attest to the fact that the oil sloshes out easily if you move too quickly.
The parable is about prudence. In this case, prudence was not about preparing for every eventual need, but only for the most likely and immediate need. The prudent bridesmaids did not pack a lunch, bring a change of clothes or stick a toothbrush in their toga. After all, they knew the bridegroom would come that night, they just didn’t know when. So, being that the lamps were so small, they knew they would need extra oil if the groom were delayed at all. In this parable, it wasn’t even important that they remain awake with strained vigilance… all they needed was just a little more oil than they could carry in their lamp and all would be well.
The point is that most spiritual failures are a result of failing to make even the smallest, most obvious preparations for our spiritual endurance.
We don’t need a grim resolve or severe mortification of the flesh. The lamp of our spirit will stay lit just by staying connected to God and God’s people. It means approaching each day with the attitude that God is going to interrupt my plans with a detour that requires an act of kindness, justice or grace. It means carrying a little extra oil for whatever surprise God may have for me today.
What small provision can you make for yourself and your family this Advent season that will give you that little bit of extra oil you need to get through the night until He comes… again?
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