Ready or Not – Check Your Oil
Matthew 25:1-4
"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. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps."
Saints, let me start it like this. Most of us have had this experience. You’re driving, minding your business, headed somewhere you know you need to be. And all of a sudden, that little light on the dashboard comes on. That gas light. It doesn’t make any noise. It doesn’t shout. It just quietly lets you know: You’re running low.
And instead of stopping, we negotiate with ourselves. “I know my car.” “I know this road.” “I’ll make it.” One exit becomes two. Two become three. And before you know it, the car that was moving just fine starts sputtering… slowing… shaking… until it stops.
Same destination. Same vehicle. Same road. But a different outcome — because preparation was ignored.
Jesus says, The Kingdom of Heaven is just like that.
Context of the Text
Jesus tells this parable during His final teachings before the cross. He is speaking to disciples — not outsiders. He’s not talking to sinners who don’t know better. He’s talking to people who know Him, walk with Him, and expect His return.
This is not a salvation parable. This is a readiness parable.
He says there were ten virgins — ten invited, ten chosen to participate in a wedding procession. In that culture, the virgins were responsible for lighting the way when the bridegroom arrived. Their role mattered. Their preparation mattered.
And Jesus says something sobering: Five were wise, and five were foolish.
Exposition: What Made Them Foolish?
Notice what Jesus does not say.
He does not say they were rebellious
He does not say they were immoral
He does not say they were lazy
He says they were foolish.
The foolish virgins took their lamps — but they took no oil with them. They had what looked necessary, but they lacked what was essential.
The wise virgins, however, took oil in vessels with their lamps.
Let me say it plainly:
> Everybody had a lamp. Everybody had light at first. But not everybody planned for the wait.
The Reality of Waiting
The Bible says the bridegroom tarried. In other words, he took longer than expected. And that’s where wisdom shows up.
Anybody can look ready when things are moving fast. Anybody can shout when the music is playing. Anybody can smile when life is exciting.
But what do you do when the wait gets long? What do you do when the promise is delayed? What do you do when the timeline stretches?
Wise people prepare for delay. Foolish people assume it won’t happen.
The foolish virgins took their lamps — but they took no oil with them. They had what looked necessary, but they lacked what was essential.
The wise virgins, however, took oil in vessels with their lamps.
Let me say it plainly:
Everybody had a lamp. Everybody had light at first. But not everybody planned for the wait.
The Reality of Waiting
The Bible says the bridegroom tarried. In other words, he took longer than expected.
And that’s where wisdom shows up.
Anybody can look ready when things are moving fast. Anybody can shout when the music is playing. Anybody can smile when life is exciting.
But what do you do when the wait gets long? What do you do when the promise is delayed? What do you do when the timeline stretches?
Wise people prepare for delay. Foolish people assume it won’t happen.
We are living in a moment where people know what life requires.
We know:
We know we need:
But knowing does not equal preparing.
Some people have education but no discipline. Some people have income but no plan. Some people have prayer language but no prayer life. Some people have vision but no structure.
And Jesus says: That’s foolishness.
You can tell me you’re a cook — but if I open your cabinets and they’re empty, dinner isn’t coming.
You can tell me you’re a believer — but if there’s no oil stored up, when pressure comes, the light will go out.
Oil represents what you cultivate privately:
The foolish virgins didn’t look foolish at first. They were dressed right. They were standing in the right place. They were part of the group.
But preparation doesn’t reveal itself until pressure shows up.
It’s easy to look ready when life is calm. But storms expose who planned.
Let me ask you, and I want you to really sit with this:
Where in your life are you depending on yesterday’s oil?
What area of your life looks lit — but is actually empty?
Jesus is teaching us something serious.
You can love God and still be unprepared. You can be invited and still miss the moment. You can have access and still lack readiness.
This is not about fear. This is about wisdom.
Beloved, Ready or Not is not a threat — it’s an invitation.
God is saying: Check your oil. Build your reserves. Strengthen your discipline. Deepen your walk.
Because life will not always announce when it’s about to demand more from you.
Saints, let me start it like this. Most of us have had this experience. You’re driving, minding your business, headed somewhere you know you need to be. And all of a sudden, that little light on the dashboard comes on. That gas light. It doesn’t make any noise. It doesn’t shout. It just quietly lets you know: You’re running low.
And instead of stopping, we negotiate with ourselves. “I know my car.” “I know this road.” “I’ll make it.” One exit becomes two. Two become three. And before you know it, the car that was moving just fine starts sputtering… slowing… shaking… until it stops.
Same destination. Same vehicle. Same road. But a different outcome — because preparation was ignored.
Jesus says, The Kingdom of Heaven is just like that.
Context of the Text
Jesus tells this parable during His final teachings before the cross. He is speaking to disciples — not outsiders. He’s not talking to sinners who don’t know better. He’s talking to people who know Him, walk with Him, and expect His return.
This is not a salvation parable. This is a readiness parable.
He says there were ten virgins — ten invited, ten chosen to participate in a wedding procession. In that culture, the virgins were responsible for lighting the way when the bridegroom arrived. Their role mattered. Their preparation mattered.
And Jesus says something sobering: Five were wise, and five were foolish.
Exposition: What Made Them Foolish?
Notice what Jesus does not say.
He does not say they were rebellious
He does not say they were immoral
He does not say they were lazy
He says they were foolish.
The foolish virgins took their lamps — but they took no oil with them. They had what looked necessary, but they lacked what was essential.
The wise virgins, however, took oil in vessels with their lamps.
Let me say it plainly:
> Everybody had a lamp. Everybody had light at first. But not everybody planned for the wait.
The Reality of Waiting
The Bible says the bridegroom tarried. In other words, he took longer than expected. And that’s where wisdom shows up.
Anybody can look ready when things are moving fast. Anybody can shout when the music is playing. Anybody can smile when life is exciting.
But what do you do when the wait gets long? What do you do when the promise is delayed? What do you do when the timeline stretches?
Wise people prepare for delay. Foolish people assume it won’t happen.
The foolish virgins took their lamps — but they took no oil with them. They had what looked necessary, but they lacked what was essential.
The wise virgins, however, took oil in vessels with their lamps.
Let me say it plainly:
Everybody had a lamp. Everybody had light at first. But not everybody planned for the wait.
The Reality of Waiting
The Bible says the bridegroom tarried. In other words, he took longer than expected.
And that’s where wisdom shows up.
Anybody can look ready when things are moving fast. Anybody can shout when the music is playing. Anybody can smile when life is exciting.
But what do you do when the wait gets long? What do you do when the promise is delayed? What do you do when the timeline stretches?
Wise people prepare for delay. Foolish people assume it won’t happen.
Modern Application: America, Us, and Oil
We are living in a moment where people know what life requires.
We know:
- Rent is due
- Children cost money
- Bodies need care
- Minds need peace
- Souls need God
We know we need:
- Shelter
- Transportation
- Healthcare
- Spiritual nourishment
But knowing does not equal preparing.
Some people have education but no discipline. Some people have income but no plan. Some people have prayer language but no prayer life. Some people have vision but no structure.
And Jesus says: That’s foolishness.
The Empty Pantry
You can tell me you’re a cook — but if I open your cabinets and they’re empty, dinner isn’t coming.
You can tell me you’re a believer — but if there’s no oil stored up, when pressure comes, the light will go out.
Oil represents what you cultivate privately:
- Prayer when nobody sees
- Discipline when nobody applauds
- Wisdom when nobody is watching
The Danger of Looking Ready
The foolish virgins didn’t look foolish at first. They were dressed right. They were standing in the right place. They were part of the group.
But preparation doesn’t reveal itself until pressure shows up.
It’s easy to look ready when life is calm. But storms expose who planned.
Let me ask you, and I want you to really sit with this:
Where in your life are you depending on yesterday’s oil?
What area of your life looks lit — but is actually empty?
- Faith without practice?
- Dreams without discipline?
- Responsibility without readiness?
Jesus is teaching us something serious.
You can love God and still be unprepared. You can be invited and still miss the moment. You can have access and still lack readiness.
This is not about fear. This is about wisdom.
Beloved, Ready or Not is not a threat — it’s an invitation.
God is saying: Check your oil. Build your reserves. Strengthen your discipline. Deepen your walk.
Because life will not always announce when it’s about to demand more from you.