What Does It Mean to Give Away Your Oil?

After a conversation with a friend the other day, I have been pondering the question…

‘What does it mean to give away your oil?’

The question stems from a Parable in Matthew 25, the Parable of the 10 Virgins.

The Parable goes that 10 virgins were wise and 10 were foolish. The foolish virgins were running out of oil at the time they needed it, and they asked the wise for more. The wise said, “no”.

I feel like there could be a full stop right there.
A selah.
The wise said, “no”.

As in, it’s ok to say no.

There is sometimes wisdom in saying no.

It’s not only ok.
It’s Biblical.
It’s wise.

Though this isn’t the main point of this blog, it may be the main point for you today. If this is what you need to hear – that sometimes there’s wisdom in saying no, then let’s make it extremely clear.

You have permission to say “no”.
Not only do you have permission to say “no”; you have a responsibility to express your “no” clearly.
You have a responsibility to say “no”, because it is your responsibility to let other people know what your boundaries are and are not.

I do not know who that was for, but I bless you to carry on, in peace. I bless you to say “no” to some things, in order that you can say yes to the important things. May you say “no” to guard your heart well and to keep your peace.

Now, carrying on with the parable of the 10 virgins, here is the story.

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!’

⁷ “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.

After reading and pondering this, the question remains…

What does it mean to give away your oil?

I will continue to sit with this and ponder over it, but I would enjoy hearing other perspectives.

Let me know your thoughts!

This is my way of opening up conversation to get different ideas from multiple people. I’m looking forward to hearing the diversity of thought and perspective here.