What to Read When…You Struggle with Apathy

Matthew 25:1-13 –Then shall the kingdom of Heaven be likened to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. The foolish ones took their lamps, but 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 comes! Go out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps have gone out. But the wise answered, saying, No, lest there be not enough for us and you. But rather go to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. 

  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came. And they who were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut. Afterwards the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 
But he answered and said, Truly I say to you, I do not know you.  Therefore watch, for you do not know either the day or the hour in which the Son of Man comes. 

Luke 12:35-48 –Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning. And you yourselves be like men who wait for their lord, whenever he shall return from the wedding, so that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately. 

  Blessed are those servants whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Truly I say to you that he shall gird himself and make them recline; and coming up he will serve them. And if he comes in the second watch, or comes in the third watch, and find it so, blessed are those servants. 

  And know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and would not have allowed his house to be dug through. Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man comes at an hour when you think not. 

And Peter said to Him, Lord, do You speak this parable to us or also to all? And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward whom his lord shall set over his house-servants, to give them their portion of food in season? Blessed is that servant when his lord comes and finds him so doing. 

  Truly I say to you that he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says in his heart, My lord delays his coming, and shall begin to beat the male servants and women servants, and to eat and drink and to be drunk, the lord of that servant will come in a day when he does not expect, and at an hour when he does not know. And he will cut him apart, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 

  And that servant who knew his lord’s will and did not prepare, nor did according to His will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he not knowing, and doing things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For to whomever much is given, of him much shall be required. And to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. 

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 –Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning. And you yourselves be like men who wait for their lord, whenever he shall return from the wedding, so that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately. 

  Blessed are those servants whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Truly I say to you that he shall gird himself and make them recline; and coming up he will serve them. And if he comes in the second watch, or comes in the third watch, and find it so, blessed are those servants. And know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and would not have allowed his house to be dug through. 

  Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man comes at an hour when you think not. And Peter said to Him, Lord, do You speak this parable to us or also to all? And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward whom his lord shall set over his house-servants, to give them their portion of food in season?  Blessed is that servant when his lord comes and finds him so doing. Truly I say to you that he will set him over all his possessions. 

  But if that servant says in his heart, My lord delays his coming, and shall begin to beat the male servants and women servants, and to eat and drink and to be drunk, the lord of that servant will come in a day when he does not expect, and at an hour when he does not know. And he will cut him apart, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 

  And that servant who knew his lord’s will and did not prepare, nor did according to His will, shall be beaten with many stripes.   But he not knowing, and doing things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For to whomever much is given, of him much shall be required. And to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. 

Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22 –And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says these things. I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die. For I have not found your works being fulfilled before God. 

  Remember then how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments. And they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 

  The one who overcomes, this one will be clothed in white clothing. And I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. …And to the angel of the church of the Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Head of the creation of God, says these things: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I would that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 

  Because you say, I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I counsel you to buy from Me gold purified by fire, so that you may be rich; and white clothing, so that you may be clothed, and so that the shame of your nakedness does not appear. And anoint your eyes with eye salve, so that you may see. 

  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame and have sat down with My Father in His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.