Matthew 25:1-14 New International Version
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ 12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
***END***
Although this passage pertains to the second coming of Christ and serves as a cautionary tale for us, the church (His bride) to be prepared for this momentous occasion, it sparked a thought about a conversation I had recently regarding singles waiting on future spouses. A question/concern was expressed about the difficulty of waiting a long time for a spouse, and what needs to be done to help navigate this challenge. It’s simple, continue to get ready and stay ready. As long as a person trusts God to present them with a spouse, all I can suggest is that you wait until He says it’s time. Often, we don’t know exactly when this will happen, if at all. And that’s a part of the challenge. Nevertheless, if you choose not to wait on Him, you can end up in a relationship He has not called you to, at a time He has not ordained. This will result in you reaping the consequences of your decision.
Getting ready and staying ready may include (but is not limited to):
Building yourself up spiritually and maintaining a strong relationship with the Lord
Taking care of your body/being physically healthy
Taking care of yourself mentally, emotionally
Working towards or maintaining financial freedom
Getting rid of old baggage (being delivered from past issues)
Continuously being educated (via school, work, or current events)
Getting ready and staying ready may look the same or a little different depending on the person. But the bottom line is this…you don’t want to stop preparing yourself for the day you may meet your future spouse and the season you go through to become married. Unlike holidays, one may not know the day or time for this encounter. Therefore, you do not want to be in a position where you are not ready to date and marry when he or she appears. Â
For those who feel as if they have been waiting longer than they desire to wait, I encourage you not to become weary. Continue to trust God, continue to prepare yourself, stay prepared, and remain faithful to Him while you wait. My prayer is that He will grant you your heart’s desires. However, if you never marry I hope that He will find you faithful until the end.
Hebrews 11:13 (NIV)
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.
*Please read Hebrews chapter 11 for context and encouragement to continue living in faith.
                                                                                                                                                               Selah