THE PARABLE
"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. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Matthew 25:1-12
The Story Behind the Song
When I was younger, I was bothered by the parable of the 10 virgins. It seemed selfish to me that the wise virgins were unwilling to share their oil with those whose oil had run out. The story just didn’t make sense to me. As I have grown older, and studied the parable more in depth, I have recognized many truths in this beautiful story, told by the Savior himself. And while I still feel sad for the foolish virgins whom the Savior does not recognize in the dark of that night, I understand that it is our own choices that will allow us to abide in his presence, or be left outside the gate. Elder Ashton gave an excellent talk about this parable that has given me a great deal of insight. He taught:
“The oil of spiritual preparedness cannot be shared. The wise were not unkind or selfish when they refused oil to the foolish in the moment of truth. The kind of oil needed by all of us to light up the darkness and illuminate the way is not shareable. How can one share the blessings that come through visiting the sick? How can one share a personal testimony? How can one share the blessings of church and conference attendance? How can one share the lesson of obedience learned through the law of tithing? Each must accumulate this kind of oil for himself. In our lives the oil is accumulated by righteous living, a drop at a time.”
He then shared an exhortation and warning:
“The ten virgins represent the people of the Church of Jesus Christ. The wise and foolish virgins, all of them, had been invited to the wedding supper; they had knowledge of the importance of the occasion. They were not heathens, or gentiles, or corrupt or lost, but rather they were informed people who had the saving, exalting gospel in their possession, but had not made it the center of their lives. They knew the way, but were foolishly unprepared for the coming of the bridegroom. In the most needed moment, there was no oil available to refill their lamps, even though they had been warned their entire lives.”
My heart aches at the thought of those who neglect filling their lamps with that precious oil, and I feel an urgency to continue to add to my store, one drop at a time. When the bridegroom arrives, I want to be prepared to meet Him on that day. When He calls to me, I hope I will be ready.
LYRICS
Long ago the Savior told of ten virgins in the night.
Five were wise, the Spirit filled their lives
And their lamps were filled with oil and burning bright.
The foolish virgins came, but they were not prepared
And the oil that fills these lamps cannot be shared
When the Bridegroom arrives, will I be foolish or be wise?
Will I be prepared to meet Him on that day?
Will my lamp be trimmed and burning when my Savior comes again?
When He calls to me will I be ready?
I will fill my lamp each day I live
Through the choices I make and in what I choose to give.
I’ll give my life to Him. My lamp will shine
Filled with oil, one drop at a time.
Errands to run, jobs to be done, daily tasks that never cease,
But do I give the greatest part of me
To the things that matter the least?
There never seems to be enough time in a day
But I can choose what matters most today.
When the Bridegroom arrives, will I be foolish or be wise?
Will I be prepared to meet Him on that day?
Will my lamp be trimmed and burning when my Savior comes again?
When He calls to me will I be ready?
I will fill my lamp each day I live
Through the choices I make and in what I choose to give.
I’ll give my life to Him. My lamp will shine
Filled with oil, one drop at a time.