1. Preparation The Ten Virgins The Rich Fool The Faithful and the Evil Servant

2. Time is of the Essence Jesus often stressed the importance of being prepared. God has given us time to turn to Him: –2 Pet. 3:9 –1 Thess. 5:1-6 Are we using God’s gift of time to prepare for Christ’s coming?

3. The Ten Virgins Matthew 25:1-13 All ten virgins knew that the bridegroom was coming. Though they were expecting Him, they did not know when He was coming. The foolish virgins had time to prepare (vs. 5), but they did not. When they finally heard that He was coming, they tried to get ready, but it was too late. Only those who had been prepared all along were able to enter in with the bridegroom.

4. Are You Ready for the Bridegroom? We all know that the Lord is coming, but we do not know when He is coming. (1 Thess. 5:2). We need to have made our lives ready: –We must have oil at hand before He comes. –Repentance of sins, good works, spiritual growth. If we see Him coming, we will not have time in the last minute to prepare. We must be ready, and we must be watching for Him, lest He catch us sleeping and unprepared.

5. The Rich Fool Luke 12:16-21 The rich fool had everything a man would want in this life. –He was rich. –He had an abundance—had to make room for more. –He was able to be comfortable for the rest of his life. But he was still found unprepared.

6. Are We Rich Toward God? To become rich requires the use of time, energy, resources, and sacrifice. Are we using these things to become rich toward God? (1 Pet. 4:10). Only fools think that our laboring on this earth is for self-comfort. Instead, we must labor for God and let Him take care of our wellbeing (Luke 12:22-31). If we are too busy serving self, then we will have nothing in the Lord when He comes.

7. The Faithful and the Evil Servant Luke 12:42-48 The faithful servant is the one who serves as if his master is present. He is diligent to use the time and resources allotted to him by his master. The evil servant is the one who believes he has all the time in the world to do whatever he wants. He does not regard his master’s wishes until absolutely necessary, but then it is too late.

8. Are We Being Faithful Servants? This parable is talking about people who are already servants in the kingdom. Evil servants feel that they have time before they need to get to work (vs.45-46). –“I have time to relax a little before I need to do anything.” –Vs. 47: I know what I need to do, I’ll do it later. –Vs. 48: I don’t know, but I’ll learn later. The faithful servant does his work immediately—he knows the Master could come at any moment.

9. Conclusion Luke 12:35-40 It will be a sad day when the Lord comes if those who know He is coming have not made themselves ready. Do we understand the value of time? That whatever time we have is a precious gift from God? Are we preparing ourselves now so that when the bridegroom comes our lamps will be burning, ready to receive Him? Will we be found watching, or will we be sleeping? Are we striving to be rich toward God before it is too late? Being prepared is not a matter of ability, but a matter of desire and diligence Being prepared is not a matter of ability, but a matter of desire and diligence.