This week in my New Testament class at BYU we studied and discussed Matthew chapter 25 which gives a few more parables that Christ told as he was on the Earth. First He gives the parable of the 10 virgins. In this story there are 5 "foolish virgins" and 5 "wise virgins". Upon preparing to meet the bridegroom for the wedding, the 5 wise virgins "took oil in their vessels with their lamps." (v. 4) and the other 5 did not. They did not anticipate the long wait that it took for the bridegroom to arrive, therefore the lamps of the 5 foolish virgins ran out of light because they did not bring extra oil to fuel the light. In verses 8 and 9 it says, "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..." 

This parable can be related to our day; many things that are acquired through preparation ahead of time can not simply be given to others. The story of the 10 virgins holds a lot of symbolic meaning. The lamps may represent a member of the church simply going through the motions without any real thought or intent while doing so, while the oil may represent true and deep and lasting conversion that another member might experience. This lasting conversion may be the means to get through a difficult experience without loosing hope and faith in the process. Someone that has not gone to such great lengths to keep close to Christ may have a lamp with no use because there is no oil to fuel the burning light. 

This was a great parable to study for me personally because I am a big procrastinator by nature. I always wait until the last minute to do something important. However our Heavenly Father does not want us to procrastinate in temporal or spiritual matters. He wants us to enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing we are prepared. Prepared for that big exam next week, prepared for a happy eternal marriage, prepared to give a priesthood blessing, prepared to receive spiritual promptings for someone in need, prepared to meet Him again.

In Christ's final week of life, Mary uses an entire year's salary worth of expensive oil to serve Christ. Upon realizing this, the apostles become upset with Mary because they feel that the oil could have been used for more worthy purposes like feeding the poor and needy. Judas, especially, is upset with Mary expresses these feelings of frustration toward her. Christ stands betwixt Mary and Judas' pointing finger when he responds, "Let her alone; against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always," (v. 7-8). 

Judas does not take Christ's correction as Peter has done many times. He becomes bitter about the correction and either later that day or only a few days after, trades Christ for money. 

Often enough, we may respond to correction in  this manner. Especially when we feel that we are doing something right or worthy. However, Judas was completely missing the mark when he pointed out the faults of Mary. We can either chose to become bitter and offended when we are corrected or we can be more like Peter who was so willing to submit His will to Christ's and take the correction to change for the better.

In Luke Chapter 10 two sisters, Mary and Martha, are presented to us in a way that highlights their differences in personality. Upon Christ coming to visit the two sisters, Martha is slaving away in the kitchen. She works extremely hard to prepare a meal and a home that she hopes will please Christ and suffice His needs. However, her sister Mary sits at Christ's feet and visits with him as Martha is preparing the food for Christ. This upsets Martha and she says to The Lord, " dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me." (v. 40), to which Christ responds, "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (v. 41-42).

Was Martha in the wrong investing her time and energy in preparing a meal rather than sitting with Christ as Mary was doing? I don't believe so. I think this story is very relatable to our day. Some of us posses more of a Mary-type personality; we are easy-going and don't see much of a need for preparation and planning, whereas many of us are like Martha; we become consumed in the details of temporal and material matters. There is both good and bad that comes with these two outlooks on life. 

I believe that each one of us at times may resemble Mary whereas other times we may feel more like Martha. Christ delights in both of the investments made in Him and His children. I also believe that as we try to see eye to eye with those who may adopt a different lifestyle and personality that we do, that not only will we become more accepting of all of God's children, but also we will become more accepting of ourselves and our many imperfections.