These Tickets are Non Transferable.

I’ve just recently re-read the parable of the ten virgins. Matthew 25:1-13

I have to admit that I have always thought that the five wise virgins, who didn’t share their oil with the five foolish virgins, who didn’t have any extra oil, we’re just a little bit mean. This is a wrong thought.

Jesus is the speaker of the parable, and it is Jesus who states that the oil can’t be shared.

This time I was reminded of a scene from The Polar Express. The young boy has lost another passengers ticket, and tries to make up for it by giving his ticket, in place of the one he lost. The conductor then shouts out, “These tickets are NON Transferable!”

I do believe that the oil in the parable is non transferable in the same way. Not because the five wise virgins are mean, but because Jesus says it is so.

What does the extra oil represent then?
In some ways, could it be the effort taken, earlier on in the day? The effort of having picked up the extra oil, of carrying it around with them? Of doing the work that could have been done earlier in the day, when the opportunity was there for it to be done?

Does this then mean that the five foolish virgins were acting like a stubborn child who is dragging their feet?
Doing a task, but only grudgingly?
Moaning a bit about it?
“Oh, do I really have to do this?”

Viewing the parable in this way, paints a whole new picture to me. It makes it more understandable as to why the oil is non transferable. The effort that one person puts into something, can’t really be transferred, in some instances.
When I do some exercises, then I reap the benefits from the exercises.
You don’t become fitter by watching someone else doing exercises, you just need to do them for yourself.

So, which group would you like to be like?
The five wise virgins, who put the extra effort in, when they could, and as such, then entered the party?
Or the five foolish virgins, who only did what they had too, to then be found lacking and left outside, wanting to enter the party, but unable to do so?