Discipline:
A Key To Spiritual Hunger
By
Wade E. Taylor
"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." Matt. 25:1-2.
When
considering this passage of Scripture, we may be found attempting to identify those whom we consider to be the foolish, rather
than looking at ourselves. Instead, it can be said that each one of us is half wise and half foolish.
Thus,
we cast the deciding voe as to where we will be found in that day; either among the wise, or among the foolish.
The
intention of the Lord is that we will be found among the wise; thus, the exhortation that those who are wise are to take oil
with them. This oil results from an active, ongoing devotional life, by which we receive from the Lord a supply of His grace.
The
oil enables us to respond quickly to His Word of direction and purpose, or to His word of correction. When corrected, we can
tell whether the chastisement is coming from the Lord or from the enemy. A word from the Lord may be sharp and cut, for the
Word is as a two-edged sword. But is will present to us an understandable way through. As we submit to its intent, we will
be led closer to the Lord. The Word of the Lord always encourages and leads to life.
On
the other hand, the enemy will condemn us and tell us that we really missed it and will never be spiritual. He will place
tormenting thoughts within that we may as well give up. The word of the enemy always discourages and leads to death.
There
were ten virgins. The word “virgin” tells us that these have not yet unconditionally submitted themselves to His
workings in their lives. Ten, the number of completeness, tells us that the Lord will fully prepare us for the marriage supper
of the Lamb if we will respond rightly to Him.
The
wise rejected the tendency toward spiritual indifference and discouragement. They began to seek the Lord and to spend time
in His presence. They asked for, and quickly responded to, the dealings of the Lord, that they might be changed and their
lives become more pleasing to Him.
The
foolish, however, remained satisfied with surface blessings and responded to the Lord according to their emotions; seeking
only their present comfort and satisfaction.
Each
one of us has equally all these tendencies within us – five wise and five foolish. Thus, our vote will determine the
way we will go.
There
is an application of this principle to our everyday lives. The wise, having oil, were able to respond to special needs that
arose along the daily path of life. The foolish, not having oil, were not prepared to respond. Therefore, when the time came
to enter in, they were still not ready because they had neglected the daily process of preparation.
Our
view of the Lord must be based on a practical, active friendship with Jesus, including Him in everything we face in life.
The foolish were only interested in the “time” of the future entrance, when it might be, but they were not prepared
when it suddenly came.
Five
actively sought to do something about their circumstances, and five were indifferent and passive. If, in all things, we daily
seek to please the Lord, and daily we set apart time to have fellowship with Him, and daily we let the Lord know that we love
Him and greatly appreciate His workings in our lives, we will have the required oil that will enable us to enter.
We
cannot overcome a problem by struggling against it, but rather by displacing it with the thoughts of the Lord. These are available
to us as we commune with Him. If we are having a problem with our thoughts, we should begin to meditate on His presence, and
repeat the words of the Lord.
The
wise will do these things, but the foolish will not.
