The Parable of The 10 Virgins and Being Ready

 

I don't know about you, but COVID sort of shook up my ideas about money and health. You know? 

It seriously does not matter how much money or family members you began the Pandemic with,

because most people lost out in one way or another. 

Then, if you contracted the virus, you find yourself battling the effects long after it visited you. 

So, I pondered this pasage in the Bible:

At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." Matthew 25:1-13

What was Jesus talking about?

Don't you wonder this? Sure, He was probably prophesying again about how He was going to die on the cross and save the world. 

But, also, I wonder why in the world the women would need to have extra olive oil for their lamps? Is He talking about oil here, or was He really teaching His lesson with a parable? 

Chances are he used this story, or parable, to illustrate His Messianic purpose on this Earth. 

Think about it. 

"Listen to My Words so that you will have enough faith."

Can you see it now? 

Light is coming after COVID

Some of us still feel in darkness because of all the destruction we have suffered in the past two years. Yet, glimmers of light have begun to shine. 

People are returning to work

Kids are somewhat going back to school

Businesses have returned back to an almost normal

Traffic is back on the highways.

So, even if you are still living in the darkness and things look bleak. Take heart because the Lord is coming, and He will redeem our lives into a new place.

We will come out stronger than before if we "do the work" of making extra oil so our lamps will not go out. 

We won't run out. God will give us all that we need. 

Turning Your Life Around With The Joseph Principle

 

I ran across this concept the other day. For some reason, I had not heard this idea before. So, if you are like me, listen close to hear the Joseph Principle. 

While at first, Joseph's story seems to not have anything to do with money, it does teach us a lesson about money. 

Joseph's story begins with his coat of many colors and the vivid dreams he shared with his family. The jealousy of his brothers, in particular, led to Joseph's subsequent capture and slavery in Egypt. 

Yet, what started off as a disaster in Joseph's life, became a fulfillment of the dreams he had and God's blessing on his life. 

While you might argue that he did not have many blessings since he was enslaved by the Egyptian government throughout his adulthood, consider his wealth and power. 

Joseph was in charge of the household of the greatest guard in all of Egypt. Pottifer was the man in command of Pharoh's safety. In other words, he was a Hebrew man who held great power and authority, even though he was a slave.

And so, we begin to see the early dreams he had to play out. 

Then, Pottifer's wife accused Joseph

She wanted to sleep with him, and Joseph, having a greater vision of God's purpose in his life, refused. Eventually, she turned on him for his rejection and accused him of rape. 

As a result, Joseph was then thrown into prison. 

Yet again, though, Joseph's gifts from God rose to the forefront and he became a prison overseer. Pretty soon, he interpreted dreams among the prisoners. 

In other words, God's call on his life began to rise again and his life took an amazing turn.

Then Pharoh needed a dream interpreter

And guess who he called? Joseph. You see, Pharoah heard all about Joseph's gift in the prison, and he called for Joseph to interpret his dark dream.

In fact, no one could interpret it, but Joseph.

In one event, God turned around his life and the darkness of it, into his life's purpose.

And so, Joseph was promoted.

Just like that.

Are you waiting for your call?

Is there something in your life that you are waiting for? Perhaps things look dark and you simply cannot get ahead of your challenges. 

Yet, in the twinkling of an eye, you could get even more than what you need. 

Let God prepare you and prepare the way, then when the Lord's time is right you will step into your future. 

"Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”

Genesis 41:39-40