Be Ready
Matthew 25:1–13
You've just heard the scripture. Is this about accepting Christ and doing it right away, because you don't want to wait? That may have been what the original parable was told in response to. Or is it about the second coming of Christ? Certainly one of the big problems in the early church was that they expected the imminent return of Jesus — and yet Christ was delayed. Both of those are very accurate interpretations. But another interpretation might be more modern, might be more for us. Is this parable about freedom and accountability?
Our culture is a culture of freedom, but often our culture forgets the awkward truth that the God who gives us freedom also holds us accountable for what we do with the great gift of our personal freedom. God does not withdraw our freedom. God doesn't take our freedom away. Instead, God simply holds us accountable for what we do with it. The message is very clear all through Matthew. More than any of the other Gospels, Matthew makes it very plain: actions matter. What you do with your freedom matters. Good intentions are just not enough. This parable is about how we choose to live.
Notice this, though — many people miss it. Jesus tells us the kingdom of heaven is like a wedding. It's like a party. It's something you want to go to. The kingdom is full of joy. It's not all judgment. It's not all harsh rules. And the message is: be ready. Be ready, because it'll be like a wedding. When that day comes, it's filled with joy.
The parable warns us that there are certain things which cannot be gotten at the last minute. A student on the day of a test can't say, "Without any preparation, I'm ready." It's too late. It takes time to develop skill. It takes time to develop character. It takes time to prepare. It's so easy, in the life we have today, to leave spiritual things to later — and then we are swept out of the shallows of life by a tide of tragedy, and we're not prepared to swim in the deep without the life jacket of faith.
The parable also warns us that there are certain things which cannot be borrowed. The bridesmaids couldn't borrow the oil when they needed it. A person cannot borrow character. It must be earned; it must be possessed. A person cannot borrow a relationship with God. We cannot always be living on the spiritual capital which others have amassed. Your mother's faith is not enough to save you. Your grandmother's faith is not enough to save you. Your family's status in the church is not enough to save you. We are called to be ready for the moment of our destiny, for our moment of opportunity.
So how does one get ready? In the spiritual realm, it begins with your decision to live your life as a servant of Jesus Christ, as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Then it begins with finding a fellowship, a church of other believers who will encourage you, who will be there with you during the highs and the lows. And then you begin to find your place of service in God's kingdom, and then you practice — and you practice until it's automatic.
There are so many moments of opportunity in our lives. It may not seem spiritual to you at the time, but it is spiritual. Your life is spiritual. What you do with your family, what you do with your friends, what you do with the church, what you do in your business — it's all part of God's plan. And when that moment comes, you want to be ready. It's not always easy to be ready. But when you get inside, the kingdom of God is a party. It's a celebration. It's a joy. Have there been hardships? Suffering? Difficult times? Yes, yes, and yes. But what a joy to live the Christian life. What a joy to have communion with the living God. What a joy to follow Jesus Christ.
From the sermon of November 8, 2026
Pastor William Mitchell
You've just heard the scripture. Is this about accepting Christ and doing it right away, because you don't want to wait? That may have been what the original parable was told in response to. Or is it about the second coming of Christ? Certainly one of the big problems in the early church was that they expected the imminent return of Jesus — and yet Christ was delayed. Both of those are very accurate interpretations. But another interpretation might be more modern, might be more for us. Is this parable about freedom and accountability?
Our culture is a culture of freedom, but often our culture forgets the awkward truth that the God who gives us freedom also holds us accountable for what we do with the great gift of our personal freedom. God does not withdraw our freedom. God doesn't take our freedom away. Instead, God simply holds us accountable for what we do with it. The message is very clear all through Matthew. More than any of the other Gospels, Matthew makes it very plain: actions matter. What you do with your freedom matters. Good intentions are just not enough. This parable is about how we choose to live.
Notice this, though — many people miss it. Jesus tells us the kingdom of heaven is like a wedding. It's like a party. It's something you want to go to. The kingdom is full of joy. It's not all judgment. It's not all harsh rules. And the message is: be ready. Be ready, because it'll be like a wedding. When that day comes, it's filled with joy.
The parable warns us that there are certain things which cannot be gotten at the last minute. A student on the day of a test can't say, "Without any preparation, I'm ready." It's too late. It takes time to develop skill. It takes time to develop character. It takes time to prepare. It's so easy, in the life we have today, to leave spiritual things to later — and then we are swept out of the shallows of life by a tide of tragedy, and we're not prepared to swim in the deep without the life jacket of faith.
The parable also warns us that there are certain things which cannot be borrowed. The bridesmaids couldn't borrow the oil when they needed it. A person cannot borrow character. It must be earned; it must be possessed. A person cannot borrow a relationship with God. We cannot always be living on the spiritual capital which others have amassed. Your mother's faith is not enough to save you. Your grandmother's faith is not enough to save you. Your family's status in the church is not enough to save you. We are called to be ready for the moment of our destiny, for our moment of opportunity.
So how does one get ready? In the spiritual realm, it begins with your decision to live your life as a servant of Jesus Christ, as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Then it begins with finding a fellowship, a church of other believers who will encourage you, who will be there with you during the highs and the lows. And then you begin to find your place of service in God's kingdom, and then you practice — and you practice until it's automatic.
There are so many moments of opportunity in our lives. It may not seem spiritual to you at the time, but it is spiritual. Your life is spiritual. What you do with your family, what you do with your friends, what you do with the church, what you do in your business — it's all part of God's plan. And when that moment comes, you want to be ready. It's not always easy to be ready. But when you get inside, the kingdom of God is a party. It's a celebration. It's a joy. Have there been hardships? Suffering? Difficult times? Yes, yes, and yes. But what a joy to live the Christian life. What a joy to have communion with the living God. What a joy to follow Jesus Christ.
From the sermon of November 8, 2026
Pastor William Mitchell
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