TREM Devotional 4 March 2026 – Don’t Be A Foolish Christian

Biblical Context

This passage is from the Gospel of Matthew, written by Matthew, one of Jesus’ disciples. He wrote his Gospel to a Jewish audience, showing them that Jesus is the Messiah they had been waiting for. This specific story, the Parable of the Ten Virgins, is part of a larger teaching Jesus gives about His second coming and the end times. He’s trying to get His followers ready, making it clear that they need to stay watchful and prepared for when He returns, because no one knows the exact day or hour.

Key Word Study

Let’s look at the word “foolish” in our main verse. In the Greek, it’s moros (μωρός). This word gives us our English word “moron.” It doesn’t just mean silly or playful. It means stupid, dull, thoughtless, or heedless. Someone who is moros makes poor choices because they aren’t thinking things through or they simply don’t care enough to be ready. They might even act against good sense. In this parable, the foolish virgins aren’t just a bit behind; they’ve made a really bad choice by not having enough oil, showing a deep lack of care for something truly important.

The Call for Spiritual Readiness

You know, Jesus often told stories to help us get what He’s saying. Our verse today is part of the Parable of the Ten Virgins, found in Matthew chapter 25. Let’s look at the full story to get the whole picture:

Matthew 25:1-13 (KJV)
“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”

This story paints a clear picture. The wise virgins weren’t just lucky; they had learned the true value of being prepared. They made sure they had extra oil. The foolish ones, though, they were just plain careless. Maybe they didn’t show up when teaching was happening, or maybe they just sat through it all without really listening, asking questions, or doing what they were told. The rules and instructions were right there for everyone, but only some really got them and put them to use.

The Casual Christian Trap

The devotional calls it like it is: a foolish Christian takes spiritual things lightly. For them, being committed to God’s kingdom just feels like too much trouble. They skip church group meetings, they avoid getting involved, and they don’t want anyone to hold them accountable. When you don’t submit to good, godly leadership, you’re going to miss out on the guidance and training that would keep your spiritual light burning bright. It’s like you’re trying to walk in the dark without a lamp.

Pride can trick you into thinking you’ve got it all figured out, that you’ve “arrived.” But indifference, that “I don’t care” attitude, makes you miss the really important stuff. It’s like being in a boat without a paddle, thinking you’ll just drift to where you need to go. That’s not how life works, and it’s certainly not how faith works.

No One Owes You Readiness

When tough times come, or when a big chance comes knocking, just feeling like you deserve something isn’t going to help you. Think about the foolish virgins; they went to the wise ones and just demanded oil, acting like someone else owed them their own readiness. But the truth is, nobody owes you preparedness. It’s your job to get ready.

No one stopped you from having extra oil in your lamp; your own neglect did that. It’s time to stop blaming other people. The real question you need to ask yourself isn’t “Who let me down?” It’s “What did I fail to do?” You’ve got to take responsibility for your own spiritual walk.

The Bible makes it clear that effort and readiness matter. Ecclesiastes 9:11 (KJV) tells us, “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.” While time and chance happen to everyone, your readiness determines what you do with it. You can’t control every situation, but you can control your preparation.

Embrace Practical Wisdom Today

This isn’t just about sounding spiritual; it’s about practical wisdom in your daily life. You need to be teachable, ready to learn. You need to be present, really showing up in your faith community. Obey instructions, even when they seem small. Serve faithfully where God has put you.

Submitting to good, godly structures and consistently being part of the body of Christ—that’s how you keep your lamp filled and burning. You don’t just wait for it to happen; you develop habits of discipline. Things like consistent prayer, digging into God’s Word through study, having fellowship with other believers, and actively serving. These are the things that keep your spiritual flame strong.

Don’t wait until the last minute. Prepare now, so when your big moment comes, you won’t be rushing around, completely unprepared. Work on becoming the kind of person who is ready, responsible, and reliable. Choose wisdom today, and you’ll put yourself in the right place to get everything God has planned for you. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about being prepared.