Matthew 25:1-13 Then shall the kingdom of Heaven be likened to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. (2) And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. (3) The foolish ones took their lamps, but 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 comes! Go out to meet him. (7) Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. (8) And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps have gone out. (9) But the wise answered, saying, No, lest there be not enough for us and you. But rather go to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. (10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came. And they who were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut. (11) Afterwards the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. (12) But he answered and said, Truly I say to you, I do not know you. (13) Therefore watch, for you do not know either the day or the hour in which the Son of Man comes.

This first parable that Jesus started in Matthew 25: 1-13 tells us that we need to be prepared at all times for His coming. In reading the rest of the chapter He is telling us to be prepared to give an account for what we are doing. Since nobody knows the place or time we need to make sure that we are always prepared by doing the things that He requires of us as a Church at all times. That's the only way we can always be prepared. This is very hard to do but we need to always try to be ready.

Matthew 25:14-30 For it is as if a man going abroad called his own servants and gave them his goods. (15) And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to each according to his ability. And he went abroad at once. (16) And going he who had received the five talents traded with them, and made another five talents. (17) And likewise he who had received two, he also gained another two. (18) But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the earth and hid his lord's silver. (19) After a long time the lord of those servants came and took account with them. (20) And so he who had received five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered five talents to me. Behold, I have gained five talents above them. (21) His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things; I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. (22) He also who had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered two talents to me. Behold, I have gained two other talents above them. (23) His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. (24) And he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew that you were a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter. (25) And I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the earth. Lo, you have yours. (26) His lord answered and said to him, Evil and slothful servant! You knew that I reaped where I did not sow, and gathered where I did not scatter, (27) then you should have put my money to the exchangers, and coming I would have received my own with interest. (28) Therefore take the talent from him and give it to him who has ten talents. (29) For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will abound. But from him who has not, even that which he has shall be taken away from him. (30) And throw the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Here in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus makes a point of a few things. One is that we all don't have the same starting place. Some of us have more than other but another point is that it doesn't matter if you have more or less. It's what you do with what you have. This could mean money, how we use our money whether in giving or investing, our health, our words of encouragement, our education and time. Also Jesus brings the point on being lazy. Even though one of the servants gave all the money back he was thrown out because of his laziness and lack of faith which is my next point. The servants fear or lack of faith caused him not to take a chance. The Bible says it's impossible to please God without faith. What I found interesting is that neither of the servants got to keep what they gained but was content to share the happiness with there master. The happiness came from serving (sounds like the Church to me). We have to move beyond fear to gain anything from God but the key thing is to move and have the faith that something good is going to happen.

Next- Matthew 25:31-46 But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He shall sit on the throne of His glory. (32) And all nations shall be gathered before Him. And He shall separate them from one another, as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats. (33) And indeed He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats off the left. (34) Then the King shall say to those on His right hand, Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (35) For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in; (36) I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. (37) Then the righteous shall answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry, and fed You? Or thirsty, and gave You drink? (38) When did we see You a stranger, and took You in? Or naked, and clothed You? (39) Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and came to You? (40) And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you have done it to Me. (41) Then He also shall say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. (42) For I was hungry, and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me no drink; (43) I was a stranger and you did not take Me in; I was naked, and you did not clothe Me; I was sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me. (44) Then they will also answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You? (45) Then He shall answer them, saying, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me. (46) And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.

This parable talks about so much. First Jesus talks about how He is going to separate the ones who have followed Him (Sheep) and the ones that did what they wanted to do (goats). He was able to tell the difference by what they did in there lives. The ones who fed the hungry, the one who gave something to drink when they were thirsty, the one who was a friend to someone who needed a friend, gave clothes to the naked and the ones who visited the sick were the sheep. In nutshell, the ones that had something no matter how little gave to those who lacked. That's truly what "being the Church" is and is what Jesus wants from His Church. This made me realize something and that is the more I write my thoughts down; the more I see where I fall short. I guess sometimes I am more like a goat. Man, I really got some work to do. What about you?