Imagine standing at the edge of a garden, looking out toward a bustling city in the distance. The garden is quiet, slow-growing, tended with care. The city, on the other hand, is loud and urgent—everything moves at lightning speed. Which one describes your soul right now? Are you a place of peace in the middle of chaos? Or are you caught in the constant noise, pulled in a hundred directions?

There’s a lot happening in the world right now. Chaos, uncertainty, information overload—it feels like everything moves fast, and yet, something deep within us longs for stillness. We crave peace, something solid to stand on when everything else is shifting.

Jesus knew we’d face times like these. He spoke in stories that would stick with us, stories that would come back to us when we needed them most. One of those stories is found in Matthew 25—the parable of the ten bridesmaids.

It’s a story about being ready.

The Parable of Readiness

In Jewish tradition, when a couple was engaged, the bride had to wait for the groom to return. It could be a year or more before he came to take her home, so she had to be ready at any moment.

That’s where we find the ten bridesmaids in Matthew 25. They all had lamps, waiting for the groom to arrive. But only five of them had extra oil. The others ran out. By the time they returned with more, it was too late. The wedding feast had begun, and they were shut out.

Jesus wasn’t just telling a wedding story. He was talking about our hearts. He was showing us what it means to be wise and prepared.

The five who were ready didn’t just hope they’d have enough oil. They took responsibility for what they needed. They planned ahead. They lived with an awareness that the wait might be long, and they made sure they were prepared.

The other five? They assumed things would work out. They were unprepared, distracted, shortsighted. And when the moment came, they weren’t ready.

Wisdom vs. Foolishness: The Difference That Matters

Jesus could have used words like “good” and “bad” to describe the two groups. But he didn’t. He said “wise” and “foolish.”

That distinction matters.

• Foolishness in Scripture is more than just making mistakes—it’s choosing to ignore wisdom, living without thought for the future, and remaining spiritually unprepared. It means going through life focused on what is temporary while missing what truly lasts.
• Wisdom, on the other hand, is about discernment. It’s about recognizing what matters most and shaping our lives accordingly. It’s spiritual foresight, the ability to prepare our hearts so that when challenges come, we’re not scrambling to find what we need.

The world often celebrates the foolish. Our culture values speed, convenience, and whatever feels good in the moment. But wisdom? Wisdom looks different. It’s slow. It’s intentional. It’s built over time.

The Age We Live In

Jesus warned his disciples not to be deceived by the distractions and pressures of their time. That warning is just as relevant today.

We live in an age of:

• Instant Gratification – Everything is fast. Waiting feels impossible. But true spiritual depth isn’t microwaved; it’s cultivated over time.
• Distraction – Our attention is pulled in a thousand directions. Social media, news, entertainment—it’s easy to drown out the voice of God without even realizing it.
• Polarization – The world is divided. Everyone picks sides. But Jesus calls us to unity, to love our enemies, to pursue peace.
• Relativism – Truth has become subjective. But Jesus hasn’t changed. He is still the way, the truth, and the life.
• Sensationalism – Headlines are designed to spark outrage. Fear drives clicks. But wisdom isn’t reactionary—it’s steady, thoughtful, grounded.

How do we stay wise in a world like this?

Tending the Garden of Your Soul

Developing spiritual maturity—being truly ready for what’s ahead—doesn’t come in an instant. It’s not something you grab off a shelf like produce at a grocery store. It’s cultivated, like a garden. It takes time.

Spiritual maturity isn’t about doing more but about making space for the Holy Spirit to work in you. Tending the soil of your heart allows wisdom to take root and grow.

What does that look like?

• Be in God’s Word – You can’t remember what you’ve never learned. The Holy Spirit brings Scripture to mind when we need it, but we have to give Him something to work with.
• Seek Wisdom in Community – Who are the wise people in your life? Who do you go to for advice? We were never meant to do this alone.
• Practice Confession and Reflection – Take time to examine your heart. What’s growing there? What needs to be removed?
• Develop Spiritual Rhythms – Prayer, worship, Sabbath, silence—these aren’t just religious activities. They’re ways of keeping your heart aligned with Jesus.
• Pay Attention to Your Focus – What’s shaping your heart? If you’re more immersed in the culture than in God’s presence, you’ll start to think like the world instead of like Jesus.

It’s Not About Fear—It’s About Love

The point of this parable isn’t to scare us into trying harder. It’s to remind us that our readiness isn’t about obligation—it’s about love.

A heart that loves Jesus naturally longs to be with Him. A heart that trusts Him is willing to wait, willing to prepare, willing to make space for Him.

The wise bridesmaids weren’t worried about missing out. They were simply prepared.

Jesus is returning. We don’t know when, but we do know this: he wants a pure bride, a people fully devoted to him. That kind of faith doesn’t happen overnight. It takes daily surrender, small choices that build over time.

What’s Your Next Step?

If something in this resonates with you, don’t just let it pass by. Take a step.

• Maybe it’s spending more time in Scripture.
• Maybe it’s finding a trusted mentor to help you grow in wisdom.
• Maybe it’s simplifying your life, making room for quiet, slowing down enough to hear from God.

Whatever it is, start small. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s faithfulness. And faithfulness is found in the quiet, steady work of drawing close to him.

The world will always push for hurry and distraction, but Jesus invites us to be ready—to be wise, prepared, and rooted in his love. The choice is ours.

Will your heart be ready?