B.Y.O.O. (Bring Your Own Oil)
MATTHEW 25:1-13
INTRODUCTION... B-Prepared.com Offerings
There is no doubt that 9/11 changed our world and changed how we think about our national security and our lives. Most phone books now contain a section on national security and what to do in such a crisis. The hurricanes in Louisiana and Alabama have shown the country and those in authority that cities and towns need to be more prepared when disaster strikes. We need to be more prepared for these things in the event that they happen again.
In looking at being prepared, I came across b-prepared.com on the internet. They offer several items to help you be more prepared. Some of the items seem like they would help and other items I really have a question about.
For your automobile, they have (among other products) a charger that will charge your battery in 5 minutes. That could be very helpful. They also sell an ‘Urban Road Warrior- Roadside Survivor Kit’ that is a backpack filled with items for any roadside emergency. They even have a 6-in-1 shovel! I guess that means you can dig holes in 6 different ways (I’m kidding of course). They also sell, I promise, a 2 person Economy Emergency Port-a-Potty kit. This item was actually on sale the day I looked at the website. Yet, perhaps the best item on sale on the whole b-prepared.com site was a can the size of a soda filled with clean air. It is a must have for everyone in the family for $88.95. You can be prepared for any and all circumstances that life throws at you.
The word ‘prepared’ in the Bible can be found many times in the Old and New Testament. It takes you to some interesting passages, especially in the New Testament.
* Matthew 25:34 and 41 tells us that Heaven and Hell have been prepared as the inheritance for the faithful and unfaithful since the creation of the world.
* Luke 1:17 describes John the Baptist and the work he would do in preparing the people for the Messiah.
* John 19:19 records the words of the sign Pilate had prepared and nailed over Jesus: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.
* 2 Timothy 2:21 commands us to cleanse ourselves and prepare ourselves to do good work for God.
* 2 Timothy 4:2, perhaps the most memorable verse in the bunch, Paul commands Timothy and us to "be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction."
* 1 Peter 3:15 is also one of those verses that we remember, "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."
Who is known best for being prepared? I first think of the military and those that are soldiers. If you are a soldier, you must be ready at all times to defend this country. In fact, the US Coast Guard’s motto is ‘Semper Paratus’ which means ‘Always ready’ (http://www.military-quotes.com/mottos/USA.htm). When I think of someone who is prepared, I also think of a boy scout. It is there motto after all, "Be Prepared."
ILLUSTRATION... Boy Scout Motto (http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/advance/boyscout/bsmotto.html)
That’s the motto of the Boy Scouts. "Be prepared for what?" someone once asked Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, "Why, for any old thing." said Baden-Powell.
The training you receive in your troop will help you live up to the Scout motto. When someone has an accident, you are prepared because of your first aid instruction. Because of lifesaving practice, you might be able to save a nonswimmer who has fallen into deep water.
But Baden-Powell wasn’t thinking just of being ready for emergencies. His idea was that all Scouts should prepare themselves to become productive citizens and to give happiness to other people. He wanted each Scout to be ready in mind and body for any struggles, and to meet with a strong heart whatever challenges might lie ahead.
Be prepared for life - to live happily and without regret, knowing that you have done your best. That’s what the Scout motto means.
The passage that we are going to look at today is all about being prepared. It is a parable of the kingdom. This means that Jesus begins His parable with the words, ‘the kingdom of heaven is like.’ Jesus is describing for us and teaching us about our faith and about our attitudes as we wait for Jesus to return.
READ MATTHEW 25:1-13
I. THE WOMEN
The beginning of this parable describes for us a group of ten women who go to meet a bridegroom. I guess if he were a rock star or a celebrity we could call them his groupies, but that is simply not the case. Actually, it was a normal marital custom among the Jews that when the bridegroom came with his attendants to the house of the bride, her bridesmaids would be watching for his approach. The women were to go out with lamps in their hands, to light him into the house with ceremony and formality, in order to begin the celebration.
These women are put into two groups very soon after the parable begins. Five of the virgins were ‘foolish.’ The word that is used here is a word that is quite related to the word ‘moron.’ Five of the virgins were called wise which is quite a compliment compared to the others. Verse 3 helps us in our understanding of these women in that is describes why some of them are ‘morons’ and some are not. The wise women took lamps along with extra oil and the foolish ones brought only their lamps.
Aside from their wise and foolish nature, these women are described as ‘virgins.’ Why is that? I think that the nature of virginity is important when looking at this parable. To be a virgin, means that one is pure and set apart. In Revelation 14:4, the followers of Jesus are described as virgins who ‘follow the Lamb wherever He goes’ and also are ‘blameless’ (Revelation 14:5). These ten virgins represent those that are waiting for the bridegroom. Who is the bridegroom? The answer is Jesus. These ten virgins represent those that are waiting for the return of Jesus Christ. These ten virgins represent those that are waiting for the Second Coming.
II. THE WAIT
Verse 5 tells us the reason why they may have needed the extra oil… "the bridegroom was a long time in coming." Matthew 24 records for us that Jesus has just taught the people that the Second Coming was not something that could be predicted or pinned down. Jesus says, ‘For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man… So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him (Matthew 24:38-44).
And so Christians have waited for 2000 years. There have been dates all throughout history that people have expected Jesus return.
ILLUSTRATION... Historical returns of Jesus (http://home.intekom.com/jason/return.htm)
* 1000: This year goes down as one the most pronounced state of hysteria over the return of Christ. All members of society seemed affected by the prediction that Jesus was coming back on Jan 1, 1000 AD. There really weren’t any of the events required by the Bible transpiring at that time. The magical number 1000 was primarily the sole reason for the expectation. During Dec 999 AD, everyone was on their best behavior; worldly goods were sold and given to the poor, swarms of pilgrims headed east to meet the Lord at Jerusalem, buildings went unrepaired, crops were left unplanted, and criminals were set free from jails. The year 999 AD turned into 1000 AD and nothing happened.
* 1033: This year was sighted as the beginning of the millennium because it marked 1000 years since Christ’s crucifixion.
* 1524-1526: Muntzer, a leader of German peasants, announced that the return of Christ was near. After he and his men destroyed the high and mighty, the Lord would return. This belief lead to an uneven battle with government troops where he was strategically out numbered. Muntzer claimed to have a vision from God where the Lord promised that He would catch the cannon balls, of the enemy, in the sleeves of His cloak. The vision turned out to be false when Muntzer and his followers were mowed down by cannon fire.
* 1666: To the citizens of London, 1666 was not a banner year. A bubonic plague outbreak killed 100,000 and the Great Fire of London struck the same year. The world seemed at an end to most Londoners. The fact that the year ended with the Beast’s number (666), didn’t help matters as well.
* 1809: Mary Bateman, who specialized in fortune telling, had a magic chicken that laid eggs with end time messages on them. One message said that Christ is coming. The uproar she created ended when she was caught forcing an egg into the hens oviduct by an unannounced visitor.
* 1914: Charles Russell, after being exposed to the teachings of William Miller, he founded his own organization - the Jehovah’s Witnesses. In 1914 Russell predicted the return of Jesus Christ. That failed. In 1918, new math didn’t help the Jehovah’s Witnesses from striking out again. They were wrong in 1925, 1975, 1984, and 1994.
There are still many people even today that are predicting dates for the return of Christ. Yet, they ignore that Jesus clearly stated that no one will know the day or the hour of His Second Coming. We do not know when it is... and so we wait. We wait as the ten virgins waited for the bridegroom. All the women waiting fall asleep. The wait is longer than anyone anticipated and so it is with the return of Jesus. Christians of every generation feel that Jesus is returning, but He still has us wait.
III. THE WING DING
Verse 6 tells us that the cry comes when the women do not expect. They are called to meet the bridegroom. Here’s where the real issue lies. The women all arise and trim their lamps (verse 7). The wait had been so long that all of the lamps needed more oil. The wise virgins were those that had oil with them and were able to fill their lamps. The foolish virgins had to go and buy oil and were not prepared. They, because they were not prepared, were left out of the bride and groom’s party. The celebration went on without them because they were shut outside (verse 10).
Thus far the parable seems quite realistic, except for perhaps the women who went out and were not prepared to wait. As always in parables, the real point is the spiritual meaning behind the story. This point now becomes clear. An ordinary groom would answer the door and... what? Let them in. This lord refuses to let them in and even says that he does not know who they are.
The meaning for us is three fold. First, the wait for Jesus to return is longer than anyone has expected. We simply do not know when Jesus will return and we await that day. Second, those who are like the wise virgins must be prepared for a long wait. Being faithful and being a disciple is more of a task than we realize, but we must prepare ourselves for it and commit ourselves. We must BYOO... Bring Your Own Oil. Third, those who are like the foolish virgins who do not prepare adequately may discover there is a point at which they do not know God and He does not know them. They will not be allowed in.
CONCLUSION
