Faith and Oil
One of interesting teachings by Christ Jesus is related to ten girls
Matthew 25:1-13New International Version (NIV)
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.This is a very cruel parable. Foolish girls are helpless, and nobody feels sympathy for them. It is as if they were punished only because of their negligence. How can the kingdom of heaven be so stern to people? Can't it be more generous and tolerant?
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 “‘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.’
10 “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.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
But the lamp might be the human soul and oil might be faith. And a soul without faith should be useless in the kingdom of heaven. And, more gravely, you cannot borrow faith from others.
However, this situation of the ten young women might be related to a certain incident of the days when Christ Jesus was preaching. He must have observed ten girls a half of whom had faith and another half had not. Christ Jesus wanted to give a warning to them, without taking a harsh stance. He meant that every girl was given the same lamp or the soul. To fill it with oil is their responsibility. They had to make an effort by themselves. And an effort cannot be borrowed from others.
Now I think that Christ Jesus must see three girls today: a Jewish girl, a Christian girl, and a Muslim girl. Each has her own lamp. But who has not oil?
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Luk 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
Luk 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.