Be Prepared

Be Prepared

The Ten Bridesmaids

Read: Matthew 25:1-13

As I stood in the kitchen looking over my menu, I felt uneasy but not panicked. I had estimated the time it would take my husband’s family to drive from Memphis to central Illinois. Taking into account that they probably wouldn’t leave as early as they planned, I figured that I still had an hour and a half. We probably wouldn’t eat until midafternoon. But as always, I wished I had done more preparation ahead of time. I could have made those pies a day earlier, I thought. Just as I picked up a knife to peel potatoes, our guests walked in.

Jesus’ parable of the ten bridesmaids waiting to join the wedding procession illustrates the danger of not being spiritually prepared. Five women took extra oil for their lamps, and five didn’t bring enough. When the groom finally showed up at midnight, the bridesmaids who needed more oil panicked and begged the others to lend them some. When their request was denied, the women rushed out to try to buy oil. They arrived late to the wedding feast and pleaded to be admitted, but the groom refused. Only the bridesmaids who had thought ahead enjoyed the privilege of participating in the festivities.

Many people are living like the foolish bridesmaids, going through life without giving a thought to their eternal destinies. When we’re healthy and happy, it’s tempting to ignore our spiritual needs. It’s easy to get so caught up in the present that we don’t prepare for the future. We forget that a day is coming when we’ll stand before our Creator to account for our lives. When that moment comes, we don’t want to be like the bridesmaids who heard the groom say, “I don’t know you!” We want God to find us spiritually prepared so we can enjoy the festivities with him.

[Jesus said,] “You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

Luke 12:40