Matthew 25, verses 1 to 12.
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 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. 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. Afterwards came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
It is what pondering why ten virgins, all members of the same team, with one vision (to meet the bridegroom) had five foolish members and five others described as wise. What were the differences between them? The scripture outlines them as follows.
i) "They that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them."
ii) "The wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps."
The next important questions are, what could have been the reason behind the attitude of the foolish virgins? Why did they fail to take some more oil in their vessels as the wise did? It is apparent that
they were "playing-wise." There is an African adage that says, " When a Cunning man dies; only other cunning individuals can bury him.
The foolish virgins acted like most children do when asked to carry something weighty with others. Some pretend to be bearing the weight with the rest when actually, their hands are not bearing it at all. To them, acting that way is a sort of smartness or cleverness. When children grow up with such mentality, they will always be crafty in their dealings; pretending to be part of what they are not or purporting to be involved when they are "gap finders, instead of gap standers."
Have you met someone who told you, "Count me in," and when you turn you didn't find them? The foolish virgins, unlike their colleagues, were trying to be careful, protective and wise in their own eyes. They wanted the same thing but were not ready to commit all that was required. They were leaving nothing for chance. In a worst-case scenario, if the bridegroom didn't come at all, they won't suffer lost since very little was at stake on their part. The wise virgins would have been those to suffer loss if the bridegroom didn't come since they put in everything in their reparation to meet him.
The foolish virgins are in every organization, ministry and church; they are always too protective, but sadly they end up unprotected. They are also careful, and that leads them to great carelessness. They are overly cautious, but they end up cornered.
When the bridegroom came, they too arose and put on their lamps, but didn't have what it takes to proceed in meeting the bridegroom. I can imagine the look on their faces when caught by their craftiness. The coming of the bridegroom despite his delay was just a sieve to differentiate the real from the unreal. The wisdom of the foolish virgins became their greatest folly, and the folly of the wise virgins became their wisdom.
"And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out."
Delay does not change the plan of God; it only exposes opportunists and adventurers. Finally, the long-awaited bridegroom came, but the foolish virgins who were playing-wise were not ready. What will be, will be; it is just a matter of time. Don't play the card of the foolish virgins! May the Holy Spirit grant us understanding! Amen!
DrBenard Etta
