God Does Not Close The Door On Faith

This morning I am still completely occupied with why Jesus was so hard on the five bridesmaid who didn’t come with enough oil.

However, first I want to remind you -- as a parallel example -- of how the Israelites lived.  They daily assumed God would give them victory over all their enemies.  

My take:   They assumed that without doing anything, or living differently — by just being Israelites — that God would give them political power, military strength and personal privilege simply because they were His “chosen.”

What they forgot was what God had ask of them — to be faithful and to take care of each other. 

While we wait for the time we meet God; we are invited to “prepare” — to be ready —  for that time by living in faith/trust in the God Jesus came to tell us about. 

We are to be prepared by believing — however the size of our belief —  God will provide for our welfare with whatever faith we have.

Here is the key to this tiny parable, that is to often over looked: considering the oil as a substance, something we can see, feel and understand about its use.

The oil in that story supplied fire for the lamps.  Right?

We also use this oil to cook with.  Too soothe a pain or soften the skin.

The oil that can be shared.  This oil is a liquid that can be measured.

Oil like this is easy to understand.

However the oil analogy in this parable is more complex in nature;  having various parts that are all interrelated.  And are much more difficult to share easily.

This oil relates to ones faith, trust, belief and spiritual strength — ingredients we are unable to borrow from another.

Caution, the temptation right now would be to think of this oil as a measure of one’s worthiness or value to God.

                                                No so!

The tiniest of faith is worthy of God’s love and acceptance.  I know because Jesus said so.   So I am thinking that this story seems so harsh because it was critical to Jesus that we find spiritual strength to sustain us through all of life.  Not just for an assigned time.

I am thinking Jesus wants us to realize that our faith needs attention all the time, not just when the lamps oil runs out.

In other words it is not wise to assume, or procrastinate, or put God’s will aside until later.

 

Clarification:

Being a good Christian does not necessarily mean being a member of an organized religion; nor belonging to a church.

Being a Christian is one who believes in Jesus Christ, and all he represented, modeled and taught.

Believing in God/Jesus, no matter the size of your faith, Is all that is needed to be a child of God.

And the door will not be closed to you.

¹³Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.