<p>25:4&nbsp;<em>But the wise took flasks of oil along with their lamps</em>- The fact the lamps of the foolish &lsquo;went out&rsquo; means that they all had oil in their lamps. The difference was that the wise thought there might well be a delay, and so they took oil with them. The wise took lamps plus vessels; the foolish only took their lamps. The only other time the Greek word translated &ldquo;vessels&rdquo; occurs in the New Testament is also in Matthew and also on the lips of Jesus in a parable, in 13:48. There, the faithful are likened to good fish which the judge casts into &ldquo;vessels&rdquo; whilst the bad fish are cast away. The telling paradox is that the wise, those ultimately saved, are those who have &ldquo;vessels&rdquo; exactly because they suspect the oil of their own spirituality will not be enough. It is their awareness of their own likelihood of failure which is their salvation. And further, they recognize that the outworking of God&rsquo;s purpose is changeable- there may be delays, such is His sensitivity to human spirituality. The foolish, by contrast, think that all will be well with them because they accurately know the time of the bridegroom&rsquo;s coming, and cannot think that their own oil may not be enough. Personal spirituality oil is therefore related to our perception of God&rsquo;s sensitivity and openness.&nbsp;</p>