The Ten Virgins: You Can't Borrow Someone Else's Oil

One of Jesus' most famous parables about the Kingdom of Heaven is found in Matthew 25:1-13. It tells the story of ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom.

Five were wise, and five were foolish. They all had lamps. They all wanted to be at the wedding. They all fell asleep while waiting. But when the cry rang out at midnight - "Behold, the bridegroom is coming!" - only five made it in.

The difference wasn't their dress, their location, or their desire. The difference was the Oil.

The Crisis of Midnight

In the parable, the lamps of the foolish virgins were going out. In a panic, they turned to the wise virgins and begged:

"Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out." — Matthew 25:8 (NKJV)

But the wise answered with a hard truth: "No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves."

This sounds selfish on the surface. Why didn't they share? Because in the Kingdom, spiritual intimacy is non-transferable.

What is the Oil?

Oil in Scripture often represents the Holy Spirit, anointing, and intimacy with God. It represents the internal fuel that keeps your light burning when the night gets dark.

For Christian singles, this is a critical warning. Many people want the "Wedding" (the event), but they haven't cultivated the "Oil" (the character and intimacy) to sustain the marriage.

You cannot borrow oil when the crisis hits.

• You cannot borrow your pastor's faith when your marriage hits a rocky patch.

• You cannot borrow your parents' prayer life when your children are rebelling.

• You cannot borrow your spouse's relationship with God to save your own soul.

The Preparation Gap

The foolish virgins were casual about their preparation. They assumed that showing up was enough. They thought, "I have a lamp (the external form of religion), so I'm good."

But marriage is a long night. There will be seasons of darkness. There will be financial struggles, health scares, and disagreements. If your lamp is empty - if you don't have a personal, deep history with God—you will burn out.

The wise virgins took "oil in their vessels with their lamps" (v.4). They carried extra. They prepared for the delay. They cultivated a secret life with God that gave them reserves for the long haul.

Go Buy for Yourselves

The wise virgins told the foolish ones to "go... and buy for yourselves." There is a price for the oil.

You buy it in the secret place. You buy it in prayer when no one is watching. You buy it by reading the Word until it changes you.

• It costs time.

• It costs discipline.

• It costs surrendering your flesh.

But you have to pay that price now, while you are single. If you wait until the Bridegroom arrives (or until you get married) to start scrambling for intimacy with God, it will be too late. The door will be shut.

The Challenge

Don't be a foolish virgin who is obsessed with the wedding dress but empty of the Spirit. Don't rely on FavourFound, your church, or your future spouse to be your spiritual source. Get your own oil. Build your own reserves. So when the call comes - whether it's for marriage or for eternity - your light will be burning bright.

Ready to Be Found?

Are you wise enough to prepare before the midnight cry? We are looking for singles who have paid the price for their own oil.

Join the FavourFound Candidate Database to connect with spiritually prepared believers.