Check your oil!

In times past I would check the oil in my vehicle each time I purchased fuel. Now I rarely find myself checking the oil. New technology has improved vehicles to the point that the newer ones just never need to add oil between changes. I take it for granted.

Relationships however, have never advanced to high technology. They have not advanced since the time God created Adam. Relationships need daily checkups.

The parable of the wise and foolish virgins in Matthew chapter 25 has many meanings. One meaning that should not be lost however is what the Lord is saying in this parable about relationships.

The bottom line of the parable is, "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'" (Matthew 25:11,12). However else we may use this parable, the sad truth is that the foolish virgins thought that they were in relationship with God, but in fact they were not. Both groups were believers (virgins).

Derek Prince has said that the greatest tragedy in life is for a believer to be out of fellowship with God and not know it.

The oil in their lamps, representing their connectivity to God in this case, ran out daily. The foolish virgins had oil yesterday, but not enough for today. The result was Jesus said, " I don't know you."

Marriage and child relationships suffer from the same lack of oil. Yesterday's "I love you" won't do it for today. The oil needs to be replenished. Relationships of all types need constant maintenance. They take work. They take pressing in even through pain. They take a determination to find the "hidden mysteries and treasures." Jesus warned us that there were many valuable things in the Kingdom of God that were hidden mysteries to be found.

To paraphrase two Scriptures that seem to fit, "But seek first fellowship with Jesus and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." "My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver." (Matthew 6:33, Proverbs 8:19).

Larry Chkoreff

October, 1999