Whoever loses their life for me will save it.
I don’t know about you, but when I read the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25), the most urgent question on my mind is: “Where do we buy this oil??”
Let’s find out!
In the story, the wise virgins tell the others—who ran out of oil—to go and buy some for themselves (Matthew 25:9). Unfortunately, by the time they return, it’s too late. The wedding has started without them, and they’re not let in.
That gives us our first clue: obtaining this oil takes time and effort. It can’t be rushed in the way the foolish virgins tried to do.
The oil in this parable represents our relationship with Jesus—our intimacy with Him. So to answer the question, just like our salvation, it cannot be bought, earned or borrowed – it must be cultivated.
The oil used for lamps in the Bible is olive oil, produced through a lengthy and laborious process of pressing, crushing, grinding, and separating.
In the end, there’s not much left of the olive… only oil.
There is a similar concept in our walk with Jesus–it’s called ‘dying to self’ and the Bible mentions it several times:
Then He said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” – Luke 9:23-24
“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” – John 12:24-25
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. – Galatians 2:20
This process of dying to self and cultivating the oil of intimacy with Jesus can take many different shapes, such as prayer, worship, Bible reading or, one of my favourites, silence and solitude.
The point is: spend time with Jesus, don’t rush it. Get to know Him and make yourself known to Him!
