Matthew 25:8

LAMPS BURNING LOW

‘Our lamps are gone out.’

Matthew 25:8

We might more literally translate the words, ‘Give us of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ The appeal is for more oil for lamps that are burning low.

I. Signs of a flickering lamp.—What is it that causes the light that is in us to become darkness; and what are the signs that mark a flickering or extinguished lamp? We are not bidden to kindle our lamps ourselves, but only to trim them continually, and see that they burn brightly. Man is born with a sinful nature, but he is born with a light already in him—very faint, perhaps, a higher will, which tells him that to indulge that sinful nature would be sin. And this is true of all. In Holy Baptism a new light is kindled in each one of us; the Oil of Grace was given to feed it; and fresh stores were promised if we only seek for it. What, then, is our case? Is that lamp shining brightly?

II. In ‘ordinary’ Christians.—Look at the case of those who are commonly held to be good ordinary Christians. People who set before themselves a dull mediocrity never succeed in the world; and, in spiritual matters, those who are content with thinking that if they are not great saints, at least they are not great sinners, can never rise to a state of preparedness for their Lord. Such think their lamp only wants trimming. But there is no oil in it. Its light is almost out, and they are taking no trouble to replenish it. Theirs is a Sunday God. It is because their ‘lamps have gone out,’ because there is no more oil in them, no real living faith which must show itself.

III. In half-and-half people.—But there is a large number of people who have not yet let their lamp burn so low, but every day it burns less brightly, and every day the Advent of the Bridegroom is nearer. These are the half-and-half people who, in difficulty, never think of turning to the light within them to guide through the darkness, but turn at once to some one who they think is living a Christian life, as if a borrowed light would do. That is a sure sign that our own light is growing faint.

IV. Advent thoughts.—Advent bids you trim your lamps if they be yet burning; it bids you, if they are extinguished, to go, while there is yet time, and buy yourselves oil. He Who sells it bids you buy ‘without money and without price.’ Through a wicked or a careless life your lamp may be extinguished, the light may be rekindled by Him Who is the Light of the World.

Canon Aubrey L. Moore.