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Chapter 25
1-10. The Wise Arouse From Sleep
—All who wait for the
heavenly Bridegroom are represented in the parable as slumbering
because their Lord delayed His coming; but the wise roused them-
selves at the message of His approach, and responded to the message,
and their spiritual discernment was not all gone, and they sprang
into line. As they took hold of the grace of Christ, their religious
experience became vigorous and abundant, and their affections were
set upon things above. They discerned where was the source of their
supply, and appreciated the love that God had for them. They opened
their hearts to receive the Holy Spirit, by which the love of God was
shed abroad in their hearts. Their lights were trimmed and burning,
and sent forth steady rays into the moral darkness of the world. They
glorified God, because they had the oil of grace in their hearts, and
did the very work that their Master did before them—went forth to
seek and to save those who were lost (
The Signs of the Times, June
28, 1910
).
7 (
Luke 12:35
). A Trimmed and Burning Lamp
—The very
best credentials we can carry is love for one another. All strife,
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all dissension, is to cease. God will not accept the talents of the
smartest, the most eloquent man if the inner lamp of the soul is
not trimmed and burning. There must be a consecrated heart, and
consecrated surrender of the soul (
Letter 119, 1899
).
14, 15 (
Luke 19:12, 13
; see
EGW comment on John 17:20,
21
). Talents Not Restricted to a Few
—To every man is committed
individual gifts, termed talents. Some regard these talents as being
limited to certain men who possess superior mental endowments and
genius. But God has not restricted the bestowal of His talents to a
favored few. To every one is committed some special endowment, for
which he will be held responsible by the Lord. Time, reason, means,
strength, mental powers, tenderness of heart—all are gifts from God,
entrusted to be used in the great work of blessing humanity.
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