“At the time my coming draws near, heaven’s kingdom realm can be compared to ten maidens who took their oil lamps and went outside to meet the bridegroom and his bride. Five of them were foolish and ill-prepared, for they took no extra oil for their lamps. Five of them were wise and sensible, for they took flasks of olive oil with their lamps.  When the bridegroom didn’t come when they expected, they all grew drowsy and fell asleep.  Then suddenly, in the middle of the night, they were awakened by the shout ‘Get up! The bridegroom is here! Come out and have an encounter with him!’ So all the girls got up and trimmed their lamps.  But the foolish ones were running out of oil, so they said to the five wise ones, ‘Share your oil with us, because our lamps are going out!’

“‘We can’t,’ they replied. ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. You’ll have to go and buy some for yourselves!’

“While the five girls were out buying oil, the bridegroom appeared. Those who were ready and waiting were escorted inside with him and the wedding party to enjoy the feast. And then the door was locked.  Later, the five foolish girls came running up to the door and pleaded, ‘Lord, Lord, let us come in!’

“But he called back, ‘Go away! Do I know you? I can assure you, I don’t even know you!’

“That is the reason you should always stay awake and be alert, because you don’t know the day or hour when the Bridegroom will appear.” Matthew 25:1-13 TPT

As I read this story of the 10 virgins who camped out waiting for the bridegroom, I realized that 5 of them had planned for the occasion, taking extra oil for their lamps. But the other 5 were self-satisfied. They thought they had plenty and could get more by simply asking others. But that’s not how it happens, is it? It’s those who hunger and thirst for righteousness that will be filled.

In Luke 24:49, Jesus tells 500 people to stay in the city and wait for the fulfillment of the promise of power but only 120 were committed to partner with the Promise “until” they received power from on high. 120 our of 500. That is called lack of commitment.

I looked up the word, complacent in the dictionary and look what it says: pleased, especially with oneself or one’s merits, advantages, situation, etc., often without awareness of some potential danger or defect; self-satisfied.

Which group do you fit in with? Are you satisfied with what you have right where you are or desperate enough to stay and pray until you get what you’re expecting? Are you always expecting things to be easy or are willing to wait even when it’s hard? Are you complacent or desperate?

I’m taking inventory of my life, my attitude and my hunger level. This is not a game to me, it’s my life and the outcome depends on my ability to trust in the One who is in me. So if I appear to be overly focused on the task at hand, please understand that I’m in it to win. The Oil that fills me will only remain full when I wait in His presence and spend time in the Word and prayer. I don’t fast 6 days and fill up on Sunday, I fill up each day and party and feast on Sunday.

I know this is a challenging word because it’s challenging me. You don’t have to ‘like’ it, but I hope that when you read it, your self satisfaction turns into desperation for Holy Fire that never burns out.