When Is Enough Enough?

Today I took a standardized test. I studied for it, but not as much as I "should have." So I prayed an exceptional amount before the test. And my family prayed for me. Friends wished me luck. During the test I was making mental notes of topics that were difficult for me so I would know what to study if I failed and had to take the exam again. I was certain that my efforts at studying were simply not enough to pass the exam. But I was shocked when I finished and the screen said: "preliminary results indicate you have passed..."

Tonight, I attended a Relief Society activity. The theme was "Got Oil?" and the message was based on the parable of the ten virgins. Five of the virgins were unprepared for the wedding feast/party because they didn't have enough oil to keep their lamps burning all night. They didn't get to go to the party. Moral of the story: keep a reserve of oil and be prepared.

This got me thinking: How did the "wise" virgins know they would have enough oil? What if the bridegroom had taken so long to come that even the wise virgins ran out of oil? How does anyone ever know that enough is enough?

Answer: The wise virgins did their best to be prepared. They knew that doing their best included having a reserve. And they didn't know when enough would be enough, but they moved forward with faith that Christ (the bridegroom) would make up the rest.

No one (or maybe I should cover my bases and say "very few people, if any") knows they have "made it" in this life. I'm speaking spiritually here, but you can apply this to other areas of life as well. There is no quota we are directed to meet for scripture study, church attendance, or prayer that will automatically guarantee us entrance into God's presence. Similarly, there is no guaranteed number of hours to study for an exam that will ensure a particular score or outcome. No, instead we do our best and put our faith in Christ that He will make up the difference. We evaluate the state of our hearts and gauge how our personal supply of oil is doing. We don't know with certainty what the outcome will be for us, but I believe that the faith we exercise by filling our lamps despite the lack of certainty is exactly the sort of preparation we must have to be among the wise.

Recognizing the uncertainty and frankly, our personal inability to be prepared without some outside help, prepares our hearts to recognize the Savior when He returns to the Earth. As we fill our lamps with oil, we bring Him and His Atonement into our lives, and by doing so realize our need for greater light and knowledge so that when He returns we will know that our enough is enough because He is infinitely enough. It's passing the ultimate test you weren't sure you could pass on your own but you knew someone with all the answers would be helping you finish.