June 20 – The Wise and the Foolish

 

Matthew 25:2–4

“Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.”

SITREP:

What does your spiritual rucksack look like—ready for the long haul, or packed light assuming you won’t be gone long? Prepare wisely for the future. Do not live carelessly but be ready for what God has planned.

Jesus spoke this parable during His final days before the cross. The setting? A conversation with His disciples about the end times and His return. The parable of the ten virgins paints a stark image: ten people invited to a celebration—only five made it in. Why? Because half were prepared, and half were not.

The lesson isn’t about lamps. It’s about spiritual alertness. The bridegroom represents Christ. The wedding banquet represents eternity. And the oil? It’s everything that fuels a lasting relationship with Jesus—faith, obedience, prayer, humility, repentance. Five had it. Five ran out.

Breaking Down the Verse:

“Five of them were foolish and five were wise.” – Jesus doesn’t say five were evil. Just unprepared. You can be well-intentioned and still miss it.

“The wise ones… took oil in jars along with their lamps.” – They planned for the long haul. They didn’t just carry enough for a quick wait—they came ready for delay, difficulty, and darkness.

How This Equips a Combat Veteran’s Faith:

You’ve seen what happens when someone heads out without the gear they need. Maybe they underestimated the mission. Maybe they assumed the fight would be easy. And they paid for it.

That’s what Jesus is warning about.

Don’t assume you’ll have time to “figure it out later.”

Don’t wait for a crisis to start stocking up on truth.

Don’t get so used to the routine that you forget the mission is still active.

In military terms, this parable is about spiritual readiness. Not about religion. Not about appearances. About whether you’ve done the hard work of preparing your heart for a moment that could come at any time.

And here's the challenge: the foolish didn’t know they were foolish—until it was too late. They brought a lamp but didn’t bring oil. They looked ready but weren’t equipped to wait.

You know the value of staying alert. You’ve stood watch. You’ve maintained discipline when others got lax. Apply that same mindset to your walk with God.

This world is wearing thin. The King is coming. You don’t need to be perfect—but you do need to be prepared.

ENDEX:

You wouldn’t step into the fight unarmed—don’t step into eternity unprepared. Matthew 25:2–4 reminds you that wisdom isn’t in the show—it’s in the supply. Stay alert. Stay fueled. Stay ready.

AAR:

When the mission drags longer than expected, do you have enough fuel to finish—or are you banking on just getting by? Matthew 25:2–4 tells the story of two kinds of people: the wise who brought oil, and the foolish who didn’t. Everyone was invited. Everyone had lamps. But only some were ready. So here’s your gut check: are you spiritually prepared for a long haul, or have you assumed the window of waiting would be short and convenient? You’ve packed for operations before—double-checked gear, extra batteries, backups for your backups. Spiritually, it’s no different. If your reserve is low, it’s time to refill. You don’t want to run dry when it matters most.

Packing Spiritual Reserves for the Long Fight

You’ve been in the field when timelines stretched, reinforcements stalled, and the wait wore down the will. Matthew 25:2–4 hits home for the combat veteran—it’s about sustained readiness. The wise weren’t better equipped—they were better prepared. They anticipated the unknown, and they packed for endurance. That’s the mindset of a seasoned warrior: you don’t just prepare for now—you prepare for later. Spiritually, your oil is your intimacy with God, your discipline, your prayer life, your depth in the Word. It’s what keeps your flame lit when the night drags on. You can’t borrow someone else’s supply, and you can’t refill last-minute. The time to stock up is before the call comes. Be ready—not just for the moment, but for the marathon. The mission demands it.

Make your voice count—share what you’ve lived.

Share your experiences in the comments below. Your words could encourage someone else walking a similar path.

If you're comfortable, include as much or as little personal detail as you’d like. We suggest:

• Name
• Veteran, Retired, Family Member etc.
• Service Branch
• Years of Service (or Deployment Dates and Locations)

Every story matters—and yours might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.