Matt 25

All the teachings in Matt 25 are in the context of the 2nd coming of Christ. Matthew 24:44-51 teaches Jesus may come back sooner than we expect. The Ten Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 teaches Jesus may come later than we expect. Matthew 25:14-30 teaches us what we are supposed to do when we are waiting – we should invest God-entrusted talent in God’s work. Finally, the judgment of sheep and goat (Matthew 25:31-46) teaches us what God’s work looks like – love in action. (Technically, Christians would not go through this judgment because this judgment happens right after 2nd coming ("When the Son of Man comes in his glory …”). Since the church is raptured before the Tribulation, it won’t happen to Christian. But the principle may still apply to us.)
Mike
I share a similar view with Mike, but I think that the 10 virgins teaches us that Jesus will come anytime and we should get prepared. Then the 3 servants parable teaches us what does it means to be wise. In short, I think these teachings still applies to us today in a sense that we both live in a time of waiting. They are waiting for the return of the Lord and the beginning of the kingdom and we are waiting for the Rupture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). What is coming affect how we spend our lives today. There is a difference between the wise ones and the foolish ones. The dawn of 2009 reminds us that the Lord can come in any time and we are closer to it than last year.
Audrey