Two Indispensable Elements
There are two elements we cannot neglect to live this life without. If these two elements are neglected, a personal assessment should be made if we ever possessed these two important elements. Our attempt to live without them will lead to the costly rejection from the Lord. Jesus tells this parable that reveals that people’s effort and assumptions can cause them to be unprepared to be brought into the wedding banquet, which symbolizes God’s people being brought into heaven. The two elements that give us peace and strength to endure this life are the Holy Spirit (the oil) and wisdom. Neglecting these two elements is produced by mishandling the word of God.
Weddings were much different than our American culture. One major difference is that weddings could last for weeks rather than just a few hours. Another distinction is that the day of the wedding would be known, but the start time would not1. The initiation of the bridal march was when the bridegroom showed up at the bride’s house to retrieve her, and this could have been at any hour of the day, even at midnight. This gives some definition to the statements from Jesus: “See that no one leads you astray” (Matt 24:4) and to “watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Matt 26:41).
Knowing that the church is the bride of Christ and believers make up the church, we should never leave or reject the church and therefore reject the bridegroom. The Holy Spirit leads and guides us because we accept the claims of Jesus and share life with others who are like-minded in Christ. Listening to the Holy Spirit produces the presence of God in our lives that we need to live each and every day in a worthy manner. Jesus said we should pray to “be found worthy to be kept from the hour of tribulation” (Luke 21:36).
The wisdom that builds our reliance on the Holy Spirit is our habitual growth and understanding of the Scriptures. The foolish bridesmaids took their lamp with no oil. One of the most famous quotes from the book of Psalms is “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). A lamp in those days had no light without oil. Hearing the word of God should lead us to the proper steps that keep us ready for the coming of Christ.
What steps do you need to take, and who in the church could take those steps with you?
1 Courson, Jon. 2003. Jon Courson’s Application Commentary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson. 187.
Weddings were much different than our American culture. One major difference is that weddings could last for weeks rather than just a few hours. Another distinction is that the day of the wedding would be known, but the start time would not1. The initiation of the bridal march was when the bridegroom showed up at the bride’s house to retrieve her, and this could have been at any hour of the day, even at midnight. This gives some definition to the statements from Jesus: “See that no one leads you astray” (Matt 24:4) and to “watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Matt 26:41).
Knowing that the church is the bride of Christ and believers make up the church, we should never leave or reject the church and therefore reject the bridegroom. The Holy Spirit leads and guides us because we accept the claims of Jesus and share life with others who are like-minded in Christ. Listening to the Holy Spirit produces the presence of God in our lives that we need to live each and every day in a worthy manner. Jesus said we should pray to “be found worthy to be kept from the hour of tribulation” (Luke 21:36).
The wisdom that builds our reliance on the Holy Spirit is our habitual growth and understanding of the Scriptures. The foolish bridesmaids took their lamp with no oil. One of the most famous quotes from the book of Psalms is “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). A lamp in those days had no light without oil. Hearing the word of God should lead us to the proper steps that keep us ready for the coming of Christ.
What steps do you need to take, and who in the church could take those steps with you?
1 Courson, Jon. 2003. Jon Courson’s Application Commentary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson. 187.
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