Friday,
February 20, 2026
RELIGION ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH!
Matt 25:1-10
25:1 Then shall the kingdom of
heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went
forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise,
and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took
their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in
their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom
tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a
cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins
arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto
the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered,
saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to
them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy,
the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage:
and the door was shut.
A Parable is a simple story told to illustrate a moral
truth. An analogy is a likeness in one or more ways between things otherwise
unlike. (Merriam-Webster) Parables and analogies are problematic because they
hint at the problem without thoroughly explaining it. In the parable of the ten
virgins, five were wise and five were foolish. All ten are presented as being
the same except for one important detail. Five had brought oil for their
lamps and five had not.
The lamps represent religion and though they may be ornate
and beautiful in their form they are useless as guides without the oil of the
Holy Spirit. Religion may be carefully attended to which is illustrated by the
fact that all ten “trimmed their lamps,” but there was no power in half of
them. When “tried by fire” half of the lamps failed without oil.
There is a danger of mistaking religious
formalities for true faith. There is a danger of mistaking human emotion for
true faith. I’m afraid that some of our modern worship methodology promotes the
possibility of a counterfeit religion. Like the Pharisees of old, they wear the
robes and carefully follow the minutia of rules and regulations, but they had
no heart. They stand singing with hands raised to heaven swaying to the music
but there is no oil in their lamps. When all is said and done the oil is
essential.
The lamp alone does not point out the
stumbling places along the way. It does not reveal the blemishes that need
attention. Only when the lamp of religion is lit with the oil can we see
clearly. To put it plainly, religion alone does nothing to transform the life
and guide the way. Many are stumbling in the darkness while carrying beautiful
lamps unlit.
Ezek 33:30-32
30 Also, thou son of man, the
children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the
doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother,
saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the
LORD.
31 And they come unto
thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear
thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew
much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
32 And, lo, thou art unto them
as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on
an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
Dear Lord, may the oil of thy
Holy Spirit be strong within us and upon us today that we might have light.
AMEN
