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Wise living is being ready for the King's return

Wise living is being ready for the King's return
Matthew 25.

(The Parables of the Ten Virgins, the Talents, and the Sheep and the Goats).

Before the parables, Jesus in Matthew 24:36-51 describes His return as happening on an ordinary day, while people go about their daily routines. It will be sudden, like a thief in the night. So how can we live wisely?

Jesus says by being ready (24:44). Jesus uses three parables to show what being ready looks like...

  • Guarding what you have
In Jewish culture, well-oiled lamps were needed to complete nighttime weddings. Losing oil and heading off to buy some is like losing the rings and heading off to buy some during your ceremony. Therefore, readiness, as shown by the wise virgins (v10), looks like guarding what you have. Notice where they are called wise:
V4      “The wise took oil”
V8-9   “The foolish asked the wise for oil, and they said ‘No’”

So, readiness is having and guarding your oil; the one thing that, without which, there's no wedding (v9-10). This sounds like faith (Hebrews 9:28).

The ‘beware’ here is beware of drifting away (v10-12). Those who left when the groom came didn’t get a second chance. So, guard what you have! Keep it! Continue in it! Don’t lose it!

  • Serving with what you have
In the second parable, Jesus calls the wise servants (of 24:45) good and faithful servants because they were “faithful with a few things” (v21, 23). They put their talents to work, which bore fruit. But what if I’m not seeing any obvious fruits? Jesus says there’s always fruit (v27, 1 Timothy 5:25 NIV), even when we’re unaware of them. And we see this in the third parable (v31-46).

So, readiness is faithfully serving with what you have, even when the fruit is not presently obvious.

The ‘beware’ here is beware of disappointment (v24-25). The servant, who was, for some reason, disappointed with his master, did nothing with his talent. So don’t let disappointments and bitterness fester. Receive mercy and grace to carry on and be a blessing with your talent. How wonderful it is to be in a place of Love-motivated service when the Master returns (1 John 4:19). A joyful inheritance awaits the one living ready (v21,34; Proverbs 10:28 NIV).

Jesus uses three parables to show us that wise living looks like readiness for His return through ongoing faith and loving service. How are you and I living?

Reflect & Pray
What disappointments hinder you from fully stepping into what God desires for you? How might you receive grace today to live wisely and keep on guarding and serving?
Dear Lord, please help us to keep being ready and persevere until You return or we’re with You, in Jesus name, amen.

God bless you exceedingly,
Sam.

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