October 5

"And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came." Matthew 25:10

Wherein did the wisdom of the one group and the foolishness of the other lie? Not in the matter of oil, because the lamps of the foolish were still burning, though their oil was low. Their lamps were "going out," that is, not extinguished but about to be so. Nor was it only a matter of extra oil for replenishing, since the improvident five went off to buy more oil and evidently came back with a sufficient supply.

The difference lay in the fact that the wise had oil in time and the foolish had it too late. It was all a question of readiness and of being in time. It is always wise to be swift in obedience, ready on the spot when called for.