Wisdom

Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered saying, 'since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterwards the other virgins came also saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he answered, 'truly, I say to you, 'I do not know you.' watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Matthew 25:1-13

Let's look at the character of the foolish virgins: 

• They were virgins, they had not compromised themselves
• They were patient, they waited for the groom
• They had a relationship with the groom
• They did not argue or fight when rejected by the 5 who had spare oil
• They went and bought more oil
• They returned to the marriage feast after buying oil
• Their one flaw, they had not been prepared for a delay

They were not wicked just foolish and were still cast out. The previous parable talked about the wicked servant who, when the bridegroom was delayed, beat fellow servants.

We see foolishness receives the same reward as the wicked, cast into the darkness.

What is this saying to me? Be prepared, dont' spend all I have on now, put some aside. Go out with reserves. know that there will be delays, measure correctly.

I am watching lives around me be decimated as they were full of a good vision but did not measure their steps and walk quietly, with reserves, they squandered their potential reserves on a show of pomp and glory. I cannot live in emotional confidence, my confidence must be in the Lord and His ways. I must measure my steps and trust the Lord to come at the right time.