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. (Matthew 25:1-2)
Jesus often used stories to help His listeners understand spiritual truths on a deeper level. For example, He compared the ten virgins and the oil in their lamps to those waiting for Jesus to return.
The lamp used in this parable represents the Word of God. It is what brings us light, revelation and truth that is greater than the mere compilation of facts.
It’s important to note that there are five wise and five unwise, not just one of each. Why did Jesus make it a point to have two groups rather than individuals in this story? He was letting us know that who we allow to be close to us will either increase our wisdom or make us more foolish. Since wisdom only comes from God, the five wise virgins represent people who have designed their lives around people pursuing God. Their friends push them to make decisions with God in mind and they constantly challenge each other to get closer to God. These are not friends who promote self-indulgence or selfish living. They continuously encourage each other to be faithful, obedient, and sensitive to God's wisdom and leading.
On the other hand, there are the foolish—those who follow the crowd. They aren’t making decisions based on their trust in God but following each other into a ditch. Who you surround yourself with is a matter of life and death.
Practical Application
Take an evaluation of your friendships today. It’s not about how long you have known someone or how “nice” of a person they are on the surface. Are your friends pushing you to pursue the Lord? Are they promoting wisdom from God’s Word? Do they live out obedience and faithfulness? If not, it’s time to make new friends.
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