Over Christmas, my son Stephen went to the Holy Lands with his wonderful wife Claire and their darling three boys. They brought a special gift to Claire’s parents and Steve and me from there, clay oil lamps from the time of Christ. The one I’m holding is theirs but I had to show you how tiny they are and how small the extra oil vase is that sits on the top of the lamp.
They know how much I love the parable of the 10 virgins in the book of Matthew—I even have a painting in my home—and this lamp is the perfect reminder to keep our lamps full!
“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” (Matthew 25:1-2)
This isn’t about good and bad, not righteous and wicked, but wise and foolish. In the parable, only those with enough oil for their lamps were able to enter the house of the bridegroom. For modern time interpretation, the oil is symbolic as being spiritually prepared, not just for the second coming but for our everyday lives.
“They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them; But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” (vs. 3-4)
In Biblical times, since the lamps were so small, constant effort was needed to insure that an adequate amount of oil was made available for their lamps to get through the night. Today, we need to make a constant effort to keep our “spiritual oil” maintained and full in our lamps. The Lord commanded the children of Israel anciently to use “pure oil of olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually” (Leviticus 24:2). Olive oil was a symbol of purity and for the presence and influence of the Holy Ghost. That same spiritual influence is what guides us and inspires us to “keep our lamps full.”
“While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps” (vs. 5-7)
They all thought they were ready and outwardly, they all appeared prepared but....
“And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out” (vs. 8)
In the parable the oil the wise virgins had brought with them could not be loaned out or none of them would have had enough. So by the time the foolish virgins had gone to buy oil and returned, the door was shut.
On the surface that may have seemed selfish for them not to share, but the oil is symbolic, its what we cannot give to someone else. You can share a testimony of Jesus Christ, but you cannot give it to someone and it cannot be purchased because it comes from those deep personal experiences we receive from the effort we make in our daily private scripture study and answers to our daily personal prayers. The oil comes to us drop by drop or “daily” as we slowly fill our lamps or souls with the knowledge of who the Savior is to us. When we have that testimony we are different, our hearts have been changed and we are filled with His light. That is when we deeply believe in Jesus Christ, His mission and the purpose of His atonement which can not be given, it must be gained by daily effort and sacrifice. In order for a symbolic door not be shut, it is up to us to fill our lamps with the oil of everyday love, ministering to others and trusting in the Savior. The influence of the Holy Ghost helps us recognize truth, hear promptings and have the faith to follow... so that we can enlarge our capacity to love, speak, live and serve Gods children even more in Christlike ways.
Keeping our lamps full does require taking a vigilant, consistent daily effort, but as we listen to the Holy Ghost, our “yoke will become easy and the burden light” (Matthew 11:30).
It was interesting to me that on the way to Lake Charles, Louisiana for my concert this weekend we had to use the GPS on my phone to figure out where we were going! I was so grateful I had just enough battery left on my phone to do that.
I suddenly made a fun symbolic connection with the oil lamp and my phones GPS. I realized I couldn’t get to the hotel or really ANYWHERE without my GPS! 🤣 And through my daily effort to put oil in my “spiritual GPS” I will be able to find my way back home!!! After all, there’s no place like home! #HappySunday