Don’t Slack Off

Matthew 25 is broken down into 3 parts.  The Parable of the ten virgins, the Parable of the talents, and the separation of the sheep and  goats.  All three of these sections has a powerful message for us today.  Are you ready?

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. ² And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.³ They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: ⁴ But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. ⁵ While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. ⁶ And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. ⁷ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. ⁹ But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. ¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. ¹¹ Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. ¹² But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. ¹³ Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

A simple story, but with dire repercussions.  We can read how the five virgins that were not prepared for he marriage when the guests were called, and how they were not allowed in.  They had run out of oil.  The five wise virgins were very wise indeed to to give away their oil.  Oil was the only way to keep their lamps burning through the night, and when the bridegroom called, only those with oil cold find their way to the marriage.

None of us knows when the Lord will  return for us.  We discussed this yesterday.  we must be prepared right now for His Coming.  That preparation is having a solid life that is lived in the anointing of God.  Oil throughout the bible is a symbol for anointing.  But how do we do that?  To me, there are three ways.  First is to continually be in an attitude of praise.  There is no room for murmuring and complaining in the Kingdom of God. No room for tearing people up and bringing people down.  We must be giving praise to God for all he has done, and giving edification to people to bring  them closer to God.  When I hear those around me putting down someone, or just complaining about this, that and the other thing, I truly wonder where their Christianity is at!  we should be the most positive people on earth!   I believe that if the anointing of God is on us, we will be.

Second, we should be about the Fathers business.  What is it He has called you to do?  Right now, not later!  For me, this blog, and my poetry on this and two other platforms s my ministry.  Being laid up at home is no fun, but that does not mean I can’t reach out and touch lives.   I am always thrilled and blessed when someone comments that they have been touched by something I write -I know God is working then.  We all need to do our best to be obedient to the ca,, He has given us at this very moment, not looking for something in the future.  Today is the important day.

The third is to stay humble. Let pride have no place in your life.  Pride is what will cause the five virgins too think they can go without their lamps filled with oil.  Pride will have us murmuring and complaining, or thinking we are better than someone else.  Pride will get in the way of everything we do, because we will not think it is enough.  Having a humble spirit before God will keep us centered on the task at hand, no matter how menial it is.  Anything God asks us to do is important, right down to scrubbing toilets if that be the case.  Do it with all your heart, and keep a humble attitude.  Be ready for the Lord of the house to call you to the marriage!  Don’t be caught unprepared.

The Parable of the Talents Matthew 25:14-30.

I think most of us are familiar with this parable, so I am not going to copy it here for sake of space.  The key point here is to make the most with what God has given you.  We all have talents – things God has put in our lives that make us different from others around us.  For example – I love to write!  If my fingers worked better, I’d write all day.    I am also a terrible typist, so I have to make a lot of corrections.  My wife does not understand that.  Now she is a very crafty person.  She can see something  and make it!  She absolutely amazes me at her ability to take an idea and run with it when it comes to crafts and decorations.  We are different, and God has given us different talents.  he expects is to do our very best with the talents He has given us, and if we don’t, we could lose those talents.  I want to be a profitable servant for my Lord.  How about you?

^{Matt 25:31} When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: ³² And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: ³³ And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. ³⁴ Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ³⁵ For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: ³⁶ Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. ³⁷ Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? ³⁸ When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? ³⁹ Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? ⁴⁰ And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. ⁴¹ Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: ⁴² For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: ⁴³ I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. ⁴⁴ Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? ⁴⁵ Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. ⁴⁶ And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

These verses pretty much speak for themselves, don’t they!  Jesus is telling us we have an obligation to help those in need, and in the end, we will be separated out based on how well we have done that!  When I minister to someone else, in any form or fashion, then Jesus says it is as if I am ministering directly to Him!  And when I do not take that opportunity to be ab blessing to someone, it is as if I have refused to bless Jesus.  This is a dire warning to us!  I need to make sure I am seizing ever opportunity that comes my way to minister to those in need.  I never want to refuse my Lord!

All three of these stories have one thing in common – the need to be about the Father’s business.  There is not time for rest from ministry and helping those around us.  There is no time to sit on our talents and let them grow stale.  There is no time to go get a fresh anointing.  Get busy doing what you can, where you are right now.  And when the next task comes, give it your all!  God will bless your efforts!