童女的比喻是为着儆醒，才干的比喻是为着忠信
关于信徒有两面：儆醒豫备的一面，和忠信精明的一面。信徒有这两面，因为他们有双重的身分。这双重身分的第一面与生命有关，第二面与服事有关。没有一个基督徒该忽略这两面；反之，我们必须正确的留意这两面，在生命和服事上成为正确的。在生命上，我们是童女；在服事上，我们是奴仆。这就是说，在儆醒上，我们是童女；这与我们的所是有关。但在忠信上，我们是奴仆；这与我们的所作有关。童女需要内在的东西－油在器皿里内在的充满。然而，奴仆需要外在的东西－属灵的才干。圣灵的充满是内在的，但是才干，属灵的恩赐，是外在的。我们是器皿，里面需要油；我们是奴仆，外面需要才干。
圣灵的充满产生里面的更新
充满器皿的油达到器皿的底部。我们这人的更新是从里面进行的，变化也是从里面发生的。今天在基督徒中间非常缺少这种内在的工作。反之，许多基督徒在努力改善他们的外表，好作虚饰。宗教与外在的表现有关，但神在圣灵充满里的恩典进到我们里面，从里面变化我们。内在的油与外在的修饰大不相同。修饰立刻改变我们的脸色，但神的路乃是我们饮于那灵，并让那灵浸透我们这人，那么我们的外表就要从里面改变。例如，我吃得好，喝得好，并且营养的食物浸透我这人，就使我有健康的脸色。
里面是生命的更新，外面是忠信的服事
我们需要从里面得更新，这事实不是说，我们不需要外面的活动。那领五他连得银子的，用这些殷勤作买卖，另外赚了五他连得。这指明我们需要里面的更新和外面的服事，里面的长大和外面的行动。在生命力面，我们需要从里面得更新；在服事方面，我们外面需要十分活跃。有时候我们可能外面很活跃，以致忽略了里面的更新。但有时候我们可能很注意里面的生命，以致没有好好工作。这样就是没有翻过的饼（何七8），一面烧焦成炭，另一面是生的；两面都不适合吃。
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Parable of Faithfulness – Matt. 25:14
The Parable of Virgins for Watchfulness; The Parable of Talents for Faithfulness
Concerning the believers, there are two aspects: the aspect of watchfulness and readiness and the aspect of faithfulness and prudence. The believers have these two aspects because they have a dual status. The first aspect of this dual status is related to life, and the second aspect is related to service. No Christian should neglect these two aspects; rather, we must pay the proper attention to both, becoming proper in life and in service. Regarding life, we are virgins; regarding service, we are slaves. This means that in watchfulness we are virgins. This relates to what we are. But in faithfulness we are slaves. This relates to what we do. The virgins need something inward – the inward filling of the oil in the vessel. The slaves, however, need something outward – the spiritual talent. The infilling of the Holy Spirit is inward, but the talent, the spiritual gift, is outward. As vessels we need the oil inwardly, and as slaves we need the talents outwardly.
Infilling of the Holy Spirit Brings in Inward Transformation
The oil that fills the vessel reaches the very bottom of the vessel. It is from within that the renewing of our being takes place, and it is from within that transformation transpires. There is a great lack of this inward working among Christians today. Rather, many Christians are striving to improve their outward appearance in order to make a show. Religion is concerned with outward show, but God’s grace in the infilling of the Holy Spirit gets into us and transforms us from within. The inward oil is very different from outward makeup. Makeup changes our complexion immediately. But God’s way is that we drink of the Spirit and let the Spirit saturate our being. Then our appearance will change from within. For example, I eat and drink well, and nourishing food saturates my being. This gives me a healthy complexion.
Life Renewing from Within & Faithful Service Outwardly
The fact that we need to be renewed from within does not mean that we do not need outward activities. The one who received five talents traded with them diligently and gained another five talents. This indicates that we need both the inward renewing and the outward service, the inward growth and the outward actions. Regarding the aspect of life, we need to be renewed from within, and regarding the aspect of service, we need to be very active outwardly. Sometimes we may be so active outwardly that we neglect the inward renewing. But at other times we may care so much for the inner life that we do not work adequately. To be like this is to be an unturned cake (Hos. 7:8). On one side we are burned to charcoal, and on the other side we are raw. Neither side is good for eating.