Psalm 37:4(NLT)
“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.”
In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus Christ teaches us about our readiness for his coming through a parable regarding 10 bridesmaids and their bridegroom. It is of course spiritually significant to all of us, but we should also pick up on the reality that he used the marital union to teach us about the intimacy we should have with him. In his parable, these ten virgins were going out to meet their bridegroom at a wedding ceremony, and there, they would need to wait for his arrival. Jesus tells us that five of these bridesmaids were foolish, and the reason for this unfortunate distinction is that they neglected to adequately prepare for the bridegroom’s arrival. They missed the mark on the mind and heart that would have locked in the right actions and secured the right outcome for them all.
Our precious and powerful Lord and Savior is the bridegroom in this parable, and the ten bridesmaids represent two groups, those that are diligently preparing for his coming and those that are not. The five foolish bridesmaids are those that are not following his example, and they are not Spirit-filled, or Spirit led. The five foolish bridesmaids looked the part but looking the part will never be enough. We should also learn from this parable that the oil is symbolic of the purification of our hearts and minds through God’s Word. If we don’t have it, no matter how much we beg and plead, we can’t squeak by without it.
In the Old Testament, oil was placed on the heads of those appointed for God’s purpose. Samuel, God’s prophet, was instructed by our Heavenly Father to anoint David with oil as the next King of Israel. When he did this, the Holy Spirit came on David. The oil is a representation of the work of the Holy Spirit, but in the Old Testament, the Spirit did not come to live within God’s people that were living during that period. They could not be His children and could only have the Spirit on them. Through his life, sacrifice, and resurrection, Jesus Christ ushered in the new covenant we have with God. Because of this, we can live with Holy Spirit power! We can have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside us and become God’s adopted children.
This is what happens when we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, is God’s seed, and we receive him when we become born again through Christ. This makes all the difference in our lives, but many people miss out because they either don’t believe or recognize the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ tells us in John 16:13(NLT), “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.” We need to pray and ask for his guidance continually, in every area of our lives. This is especially true when it comes to relationships.
James 5:14(NLT) says, “Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.” It’s very spiritually significant when two people come together and become one in the eyesight of our Heavenly Father. When their union is anointed by the Holy Spirit, the couple is empowered with his strength and can greatly encourage and uplift one another in Christ. They can anoint one another when needed and keep their union strong despite any dart the enemy throws their way. Because he lives within and has anointed us, we can manifest the power of the Holy Spirit in miraculous ways. Without his anointing, things can start out on the wrong foot and continue to go horribly wrong.
I attended a wedding once, and the bride and groom were so late to their reception that many of their guests left without eating. The newlywed couple decided to take pictures after the ceremony, and it took so long that the guests were murmuring amongst themselves and many were offended. It should have been a joyous occasion, but the ceremony was late and long, and it was sad that instead of joy, many left hungry. That’s the state of anyone that doesn’t have the oil. Things just do not go as planned, and even our best intentions can leave us dissatisfied and depleted. This isn’t what God wants. He wants us to be joyous, and through Christ, He’s equipped us with all that we need to remain in a perpetual state of joy and harmony, but we must follow the Spirit.
Galatians 6:8-9(NLT) says, “Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Many singles have an insatiable appetite for matrimony. They’ve gone to God repeatedly in prayer, but they are not willing to spiritually prepare for marriage by following the example of Jesus Christ in a greater way. God’s blessings are not in short supply. He has plenty to go around, but we must be hungry for Him and His Word. If we aren’t, we must pray that He will place this hunger in our hearts so that we can delight in Him. When we do, our desires will manifest. Our relationship with God will deepen and our faith in Him will continue to grow.■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“They Left Hungry” written by Kim Times, edited by Fran Mack and KLizzie for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2024. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.