In these times of war, we can expect to hear much about the price of oil. Twenty percent of the oil that the world consumes must pass through the Strait of Hormuz, but a demonic enemy of mankind threatens to destroy the oil tankers if they dare to pass. Under these circumstances, the media would have us believe that our world revolves around the price of oil. But what if crude isn’t even the oil that we need to be concerned about?
Jesus told a parable (Matthew 25:1-13) about foolish virgins who paid too little attention to their oil. In their case, the oil of concern was not crude oil but olive oil. They needed a full supply of olive oil in order to keep their lamps burning at night, because the bridegroom was coming at night and they would need to trim their lamps and go out to follow Him.
So, is it actually olive oil about which our Lord is concerned? Clearly not. The referent of the parable is an oil far more valuable than that.
Interestingly, the price of oil is not the problem in the parable. When the foolish virgins were reduced to beggars, they did not bellyache about the rising price of oil. When told to “go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves” (Matthew 25:9), they went, because evidently they had enough money to make the purchase.
The problem the foolish virgins faced was not financial; it was the problem of neglect. “For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them” (Matthew 25:3). That neglect had disastrous consequences. Unable to see their way to the Bridegroom, they stumbled their way to the oil sellers. We’re not sure if these foolish virgins ever actually bought the oil. It’s just as likely that the sun came up and they followed the sound of rejoicing to the great hall where the marriage feast was taking place. We know that when they got to the door, they begged to be let in, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” (Matthew 25:11). But the reply they received was heartbreaking, “Truly, I say to you, I do not know you” (Matthew 25:12).
No price of oil is too high to pay if it means avoiding those dreaded words. But the best news of all is that the Lord offers His oil free of charge. The only obstacle we face is that of our own neglect. The wise take flasks of oil wherever they go (Matthew 25:4) but the foolish neglect to do so.
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:15-18). God puts it on us to come to Him and be filled with the oil of His Holy Spirit. The wise do so. The foolish do not.
There is, in fact, a war against our oil. The feckless enemy cannot face up to us, because “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Asymmetric warfare is all the enemy can do. He can attack our oil supply.
Those attacks often come in the form of distraction. The enemy’s ballistic missiles are “the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches” (Matthew 13:22). The drones against the Christian mind are the mind’s own wandering after “earthly things” (Philippians 3:19). Like floating mines in the Strait of Hormuz, anxieties threaten to destroy our usefulness. Since “the Lord is at hand” (Philippians 4:5), we are told not to be “anxious about anything” (Philippians 4:6). The distractions of anxiety and worldliness are what threaten our oil.
Jesus tells the lukewarm Laodicean church to buy oil for their spiritual blindness (Revelation 3:18). Here the oil analogy is to an eye salve, curing some kind of conjunctivitis. As with the foolish virgins who lacked olive oil for their lamps, the problem is still an inability to see. They cannot see “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Maybe they are saved, but they are not beholding the glory of Jesus. Where is the light that shone in their hearts “to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6)? Lukewarm Laodiceans have the same problem as foolish virgins, whichever analogy is used to describe the problem. The problem is neglecting the holy things of God.
The answer is to “be being filled” with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18, as the Greek is more exactly rendered). The Spirit of the Living God is our oil. God has already made us who believe to be new wineskins, fit to be filled (Luke 5:38). The infinite Spirit is always in abundant supply (John 10:10). We must only ask for the filling like a child asks a father for food (Luke 11:9-13), which is pretty much incessantly. The Father is pleased to give the Holy Spirit to His children who ask.
Ask Him right now. Don’t neglect your flask of oil. Pray something like this: “Father, forgive me for my neglect. These days are evil and I’ve been foolish to neglect the oil of your Holy Spirit. I’ve been lukewarm, and I want to burn for you again. Make me hungry for your Word and satisfy me today with your daily bread. Teach me to pray incessantly. Send me to tell others about the coming Bridegroom; let my cup overflow to others. Please fill me with your oil until it’s flowing over my head and body. Anoint me with your precious Holy Spirit. When the Son of Man comes, I want to be found with faith, active faith that ministers in the church and witnesses in the world. Find me with oil in my lamp. In Jesus Name, I pray, amen.”
Because the Oil is Free,
Pastor Jeff
