Planning and Preparation

"Then the Kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible. When the foolish took their lamps, they did not take olive oil with them. But the sensible ones took olive oil in their flasks with their lamps. Since the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

In the middle of the night there was a shout:'Here's the groom! Come out to meet him.'

Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. But the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, 'Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.'

The sensible ones answered, 'No, there won't be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell, and buy oil for yourselves.'

When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived. Then those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.

Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ' Master, master, open up for us!'

But he replied, ' I assure you: I do not know you!'

Therefore be alert, because you don't know either the day or the hour." Matthew 25:1-13

Jesus told another parable: this one was about tow men who built a house. One was foolish and one was wise. The wise man built his house upon a roach the foolish built on sand.

In both of these stories there were wise and foolish people. The wise thinks of the big picture: 'how long will this take?'; how much will this cost?' 'Am I ready and prepared?' Is there something I am missing?'

There are consequences for both: the wise and the foolish. The wise virgins spent extra to take a surplus. The foolish thought: 'it will all be ok!' Australians are know for their 'she'll be right mate!' Attitude. We do not like to think, we are impulsive. It is important to think things through, count the cost and be prepared. Are you prepared for eternity?