Be Ready and Be Faithful—Lessons from Jesus’ Stories (Matthew 25:1-30)
In Matthew 25:1–30, Jesus tells two important stories to help His followers understand what it means to live wisely and faithfully while waiting for Him to return. These stories are simple but powerful, and they still speak to us today.
Let’s take a look at what they mean.
Story 1: The Ten Bridesmaids – Be Ready!
Jesus tells a story about ten young women waiting for a wedding to start. In those days, part of the wedding celebration was to wait for the groom to arrive, usually at night. Each woman had a lamp to light the way.
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Five of them were wise and brought extra oil for their lamps.
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Five were foolish and didn’t bring any extra oil.
When the groom finally came, the wise women were ready. Their lamps were still burning, and they went in to the wedding. But the foolish ones had to run out and buy more oil. By the time they got back, the door was closed.
Jesus ends the story with a warning:
“Keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (v. 13)
What’s the lesson?
We don’t know when Jesus will return, so we need to live every day ready—trusting Him, staying faithful, and not putting it off.
Story 2: The Bags of Gold – Be Faithful!
In the second story, a man goes on a trip and leaves his money with three of his servants:
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He gives five bags of gold to one,
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Two bags to another,
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And one bag to the last.
The first two servants worked hard and doubled what they were given. But the third servant was afraid. Instead of using the money wisely, he buried it in the ground and did nothing with it.
When the master returned, he praised the first two servants:
“Well done, good and faithful servant!”
But to the third servant, he said:
“You wicked and lazy servant!”
The master took the one bag away and gave it to the servant who had ten.
What’s the lesson?
God gives each of us gifts—time, talents, opportunities. He wants us to use what He’s given us, not hide it or waste it. It’s not about how much we have, but what we do with it.
What These Stories Mean for Us
These parables may seem different, but they carry the same message:
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Be ready – We don’t know when Jesus will return, so we should live each day with faith and purpose.
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Be faithful – Use what God has given you. Even small acts of faith, love, and service matter to Him.
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Avoid delay and fear – Don’t wait until it’s too late to follow Jesus, and don’t let fear stop you from doing good with your life.
Final Thought:
Jesus told these stories to help us live with focus and faith. We don’t need to live in fear, but we do need to live with intention. Whether He returns tomorrow or many years from now, let’s be ready—shining His light and using our gifts well.
“Well done, good and faithful servant”—may that be what we hear one day, too.
Matthew 25:1-30 (WEB)
25:1 “Then 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 Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘What if there isn’t enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.14 “For it is like a man going into another country, who called his own servants and entrusted his goods to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two. 18 But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the earth and hid his lord’s money.19 “Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and settled accounts with them. 20 He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents in addition to them.’21 “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’22 “He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents in addition to them.’23 “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’24 “He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you didn’t sow, and gathering where you didn’t scatter. 25 I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’26 “But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter. 27 You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest. 28 Take away therefore the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away. 30 Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’