Holmes is in Happy Valley Utah!
I decided to read Matthew 25 because I'm giving a Sunday School lesson. I had a couple of thoughts and a quote from Spencer W. Kimball struck me. The first part of Matthew 25 was the parable of the ten virgins. I have known before, but it was good to review that the 10 virgins represent the members of the church. It is not a parable about those in the church and those out of the church, it is a parable to help us recognize that as members of the church we need to constantly add oil to the lamp. Here is where the quote comes into play: "In our lives the oil of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living. Attendance at sacrament meeting adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop over the years. Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures-- each act of dedication and obediance is a drop added to our store. Deeds of kindness, payment of offerings and tithes, chaste thoughts and actions, marriage in the covenant for eternity-- these, too, contribute importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel out exhausted lamps"
The quote was striking on a couple of levels.
1- We are constantly burning oil and we need to continually fill our lamps. We can't just read the scriptures once a month and expect that the drop will burn for the entire month.
2- I think that like different lamps different people burn oil at different rates and need to refuel and add more oil more often.
The second part of Matthew 25 was the parable of the talents. It helped me recognize that I've been blessed with some great talents and I need to improve on those talents and excel with what I have.
The third part of Matthew 25 was when the Lord states "Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
I have a funny story about this one. It has cause me to think, but I felt good about what I did. I was down in AZ and a one eyed lady tapped me on the shoulder. I jumped! It shocked me. She asked me for money and I didn't have any cash, but I said to her, "I'm buying dinner right now (I was in a Chinese Fast Food joint) and offered to buy her some dinner. She didn't accept my offer to buy her dinner. I tried to feed the hungry, but I was not going to buy liquor for the thirsty.
Sorry, I went a bit long, but hope you benefit from my thoughts.
