What do we learn if we combine all three examples in today’s reading?
I generally read each “segment” and interpret it by itself. You probably do the same thing…we ask each parable to stand on it’s own. But when we combine them, what do we see? The first two parables given today are specifically talking about the Kingdom of Heaven, and the third one is talking about the same thing, even though the words “Kingdom of Heaven” don’t appear. So, this passage is all about the same thing: being judged, and what we are being judged on….decisions being made by God based on our actions on earth. Right?
I’ve commented on the 10 Bridesmaids many times before, it’s one of my “go to” texts to explain that people can “surrender” their faith. You can be a Christian, wander away and in the end not make heaven. This verse proves it. All the bridesmaids would have walked into heaven (foolish or not) if the door had been opened immediately. They were all bridesmaids, and they all had oil in their lamps. They all fell asleep, so that’s not the problem either. But the foolish bridesmaids didn’t bring enough of something they needed to get into heaven. Hmmmm.
The second example also talks of a man leaving and coming back unexpected. In this case, the man rejects the third servant because he was foolish, and didn’t earn anything with the money he was entrusted. All three are servants, all three received money from the master. Clearly, at the beginning all three servants are accepted. The third servant is foolish. Are the two parables connected?
Then the third parable tells us the God will separate all people into two groups, both groups ask “when did we see you?” so neither group knew that what they did was affecting their eternal lives. Here again, there are wise and foolish people. The wise people have been kind and compassionate and helpful. The foolish people have been the opposite. All three examples have something in common: what they did on earth is influencing their eligibility to enter heaven. Do you see what I am saying? These three parables seem to painting a larger picture.
When Christ returns He will expect something from us. It won’t be enough to say “I accepted you as my Savior when I was 15…but I haven’t done anything with it since”. That is the definition of the foolish servant. The wise servants are using what they have been given to continue earning for them, even though they don’t know the day of Christ’s return. The first parable simply tells us that Christ will come without warning, and we won’t have time to start being kind and helpful to others. When you see Christ coming, you can’t begin buying up clothes and giving them to the poor, or buying a meal for someone. It will be too late….those are all good things, but you have to be doing them all along, not just when you see Christ coming. The fact that the bridesmaids are all asleep doesn’t translate to inactivity once you look at the other parables….it simply means that they were taken by surprise.
The second parable tells us what ‘oil in our lamp” looks like. If He gives you a spiritual gift or talent, or blesses you with resources….then you must use them in some way to further the Kingdom. You should use what you have to spread the Gospel. Don’t whine because you haven’t been given much, just use what you have to the best of your ability and it will be fine. The more you have, the more you should be doing. If you have several gifts, don’t compare yourself to the man who only has one and say “I’m doing as much as him, so I’m good”. God isn’t going to compare you to others…that’s one of the messages here….the guy with 5 bags doubled his, and so did the guy with 2. The man with 5 didn’t say “well I have three more…that’s more than the guy who turns in two”. Double what God has given you! Find a way!
If you don’t use your gifts, then you are the foolish person who buried them. We all know how that turned out.
Finally, we get our last insight: In this passage we learn what God is looking for exactly. This is the “type of oil” in the lamp. This is the return on the investment. This is what success looks like. True Christianity invests itself in caring for those who are hungry, thirsty, naked, sick or imprisoned. I don’t mean this to be a comprehensive list, because we all know that you could add “elderly, children, disabled, etc” to the list and still be in the center of God’s will. The point is: “we should be using all the resources that God gave us to help others who are in need”
I celebrate today that hundreds of gifts that were pooled together in order to make this church a reality. The hungry are fed here. Those who need instruction can come here and learn. This place is open to all ages, (and almost all the time). We truly have used our resources to bless others. And we continue to find ways to do so…because God has not only continued to bless us, but He has blessed us even more than before! Our blessing has grown, so should our ability to bless!
Faithfully,
PR