The High Cost of Ignoring Spiritual Fulfillment: A Wake-Up Call from Matthew 25:3
Matt. 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
The phrase “living on empty” comes to mind when I read this verse. To be honest, even that doesn’t really do it justice, because this kind of “living” isn’t really living at all; it is rather a slow, painful death when you truly consider it. Think with me, if you will, of the people you know (if not yourself) who are living on empty. That is, they are merely a shell of a person without any essence, substance, or meaning to their existence. People who live only for the moment, without any caution or heed of pending danger or consequence, will always be found lacking what it takes to survive this life, much less the life in the hereafter. Let us consider first the name they were given; foolish. This word literally means dull, stupid, heedless, or absurd. The question I’m asking is, were they called foolish because they took no oil with them, or did they take no oil with them because they were foolish? I am in favor of the latter, simply because of the fact that Jesus first mentioned their condition, and then mentioned the symptoms resulting from their condition. The sickness was foolishness; the result was poor decision-making. In other words, if you can fix the foolishness, then you can eliminate the symptoms! How then do we “fix stupid”? We go to The Word of God! Ps. 119:105 still says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Prov. 1:7 also says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” So, if you want to learn how to avoid future crisis as a result of foolish living, then look no further than the guidelines of the scriptures and the voice of The Holy Spirit in your life! Oil, being symbolic of The Holy Spirit, also teaches us in this passage that without The Holy Spirit in our lives, we will continue to live on empty and be found wanting when Christ returns. What about you? Do you ignore the guidance of scripture and the leading of The Spirit, while simultaneously throwing all caution to the wind in your quest for a quick fix or a good time? If so, let this be your warning that while you’re playing games with your life, the bridegroom is coming! Have you made your preparations to meet with Him? If not, you can do so today! Surrender to Christ once and for all!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
The phrase “living on empty” comes to mind when I read this verse. To be honest, even that doesn’t really do it justice, because this kind of “living” isn’t really living at all; it is rather a slow, painful death when you truly consider it. Think with me, if you will, of the people you know (if not yourself) who are living on empty. That is, they are merely a shell of a person without any essence, substance, or meaning to their existence. People who live only for the moment, without any caution or heed of pending danger or consequence, will always be found lacking what it takes to survive this life, much less the life in the hereafter. Let us consider first the name they were given; foolish. This word literally means dull, stupid, heedless, or absurd. The question I’m asking is, were they called foolish because they took no oil with them, or did they take no oil with them because they were foolish? I am in favor of the latter, simply because of the fact that Jesus first mentioned their condition, and then mentioned the symptoms resulting from their condition. The sickness was foolishness; the result was poor decision-making. In other words, if you can fix the foolishness, then you can eliminate the symptoms! How then do we “fix stupid”? We go to The Word of God! Ps. 119:105 still says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Prov. 1:7 also says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” So, if you want to learn how to avoid future crisis as a result of foolish living, then look no further than the guidelines of the scriptures and the voice of The Holy Spirit in your life! Oil, being symbolic of The Holy Spirit, also teaches us in this passage that without The Holy Spirit in our lives, we will continue to live on empty and be found wanting when Christ returns. What about you? Do you ignore the guidance of scripture and the leading of The Spirit, while simultaneously throwing all caution to the wind in your quest for a quick fix or a good time? If so, let this be your warning that while you’re playing games with your life, the bridegroom is coming! Have you made your preparations to meet with Him? If not, you can do so today! Surrender to Christ once and for all!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill