Keep Your Lamp Burning

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps..

Matthew 25:4

The Parable of the Ten Virgins is a powerful reminder from Jesus about the importance of being wise and prepared. In the story, ten virgins went out to meet the bridegroom. They all had lamps, but only five brought extra oil. When the bridegroom arrived at midnight, only the five who were ready—those who had brought oil—were allowed to enter the wedding feast. The others, though they had lamps and had also waited, were left outside.

This parable teaches us that it’s not enough to look ready on the outside—we must also be prepared inwardly. The oil in the story represents something deeply spiritual: our personal relationship with Jesus, the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, our prayer life, time in God’s Word, obedience, and worship. It’s the evidence of a heart that is consistently connected to the Source of Light—Jesus Himself.

Jesus is the Light of the world, and it is His presence in our lives that allows our lamps to burn. Without oil, the lamp is just a shell. In the same way, a life without Jesus may look religious but has no real power or direction. That’s why it’s crucial that we never run out of oil. And just like in the parable, we cannot borrow oil from others. We cannot depend on the faith of our parents, the devotion of our pastors, or the worship of our friends. Our relationship with Jesus must be our own.

The five wise virgins were not being selfish when they refused to give their oil—they were simply acknowledging a truth: preparedness is personal and non-transferable.

This is a call for us to check our hearts. Are we living prepared, or are we spiritually running on empty? Are we seeking Jesus daily, staying filled with His Spirit, and allowing His light to shine through us? Or are we delaying intimacy with God, assuming we still have time?

Jesus wants us to live ready—not in fear, but in faithful, daily pursuit of Him. Let us not wait until it’s too late. Let’s keep our lamps filled with oil and burning brightly until the day He returns.