Don't procrastinate!

Matthew 25:1-13

1 "God's kingdom is like ten young virgins who took oil lamps and went out to greet the bridegroom. 2 Five were silly and five were smart. 3 The silly virgins took lamps, but no extra oil. 4 The smart virgins took jars of oil to feed their lamps. 5 The bridegroom didn't show up when they expected him, and they all fell asleep. 6" In the middle of the night someone yelled out, 'He's here! The bridegroom's here! Go out and greet him!' 7 "The ten virgins got up and got their lamps ready. 8 The silly virgins said to the smart ones, 'Our lamps are going out; lend us some of your oil. 9" They answered, 'There might not be enough to go around; go buy your own.' 10 "They did, but while they were out buying oil, the bridegroom arrived. When everyone who was there to greet him had gone into the wedding feast, the door was locked. 11" Much later, the other virgins, the silly ones, showed up and knocked on the door, saying, 'Master, we're here. Let us in.' 12 "He answered, 'Do I know you? I don't think I know you.' 13" So stay alert. You have no idea when he might arrive.

Food for thought

Jesus, by this parable, is teaching us at least two universal lessons:

(i) He teaches us that there are certain things which cannot be obtained at the last minute. It is easy to leave spiritual things so late that we can no longer do anything. To be late is always tragedy. Don't leave for later what you can do now; don't leave things for the last hour. Be prepared. Don't procrastinate.

(ii) He teaches us that there are certain things which cannot be given nor borrowed. The wise virgins couldn't give their oil, and the foolish virgins found it impossible to borrow oil, when they discovered they needed it. We cannot borrow a relationship with God or with any human; we must possess it for ourselves. We cannot borrow goodness; we must be clothed with it; we cannot pass on to others our goodness, our faith, our love, our dedication, our talents.

We cannot always be living on the spiritual capital which others have amassed. There are certain things we must win or acquire for ourselves, for we cannot borrow them from others. Because you live with a good and holy person is no guarantee that you're good and holy; you must be good yourself. If you live next to a devout person does not mean that automatically you too are devout.