Domenic Enretta – 5 Wise & 5 Foolish

I would not want to impress you with my words. I would like to say something that would be a help to you. What would be more helpful than the words Jesus spoke in His parables?

We read about ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-12. This is a story of Jesus the bridegroom. All ten virgins were bidden to the wedding — all had the same invitation. All meant to go to the wedding feast. All waited for the appearing of the bridegroom. Five were prepared for a long wait. Sometimes in waiting we can become tired and careless. None know when Christ will return — we need to be ready for a long wait.

I believe all of the virgins had names. I have enjoyed thinking about what the names may have been. First the names of the wise virgins:

1. Perhaps the oldest of the wise was called “Godly Fear.” This is the beginning. The bible tells us that Godly Fear is the beginning of wisdom.

2. The second may have been called “Willingness.” If we fear God it will lead to willingness.

3. Perhaps the third was “Wholeheartedness”. Godly fear and willingness makes us wholehearted. We cannot afford to be lukewarm.

4. The fourth may be “Love”. Godly fear, willingness and wholeheartedness grow into perfect love.

5. I like to think the fifth is “Holiness”. Holiness is a gift from God. Holiness makes us what we could not otherwise be.

The five foolish may have been traits, tendencies and weaknesses that we need to be careful about — traits such as:

1. “Short Sightedness” keeps us from preparing for an eternal future. We can be too taken up with the present — the earthly and the fleshly desires.

2. “Shallowness” could have been the second name. It is easy to live on the surface — to be surface feeders. To be too concerned about our natural needs of drink, food, livelihood, and family. We may fail to think of or care for others. We can be concerned about our bodies, but ignore the needs of our soul.

3. “Laziness” can keep us from doing profitable things. God’s people need to be industrious. We need to dig a well of salvation. We need to build an altar, and then offer our life on it. We need to climb a mountain, so we can be taught as His disciples were. We need to be industrious in reading, praying, listening, testifying and being in meeting. Disciples cannot be lazy.

4. “Carelessness” is failure to think through our responsibilities — not being prepared for a long, long service. Failure to count the true cost. Failure to do as in Acts 1:14, “…continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.”

5. “Tardiness” is putting off till tomorrow what we should do today. This is the last we read about these five virgins. When they returned the door was closed — locked — forever too late.

We need to fight these tendencies, weaknesses, and traits. We need to seek after the good qualities possessed by the five wise virgins. II Peter 1: 5-8, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our lord Jesus Christ.” Verses 10-11, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our lord and saviour Jesus Christ.”

This is what we have been encouraging each other to do today. We did receive help today.