Applying God's Oil

The story is told of an eccentric old man who carried an oil can with him everywhere he went. If he passed through a squeaky door or a stiff gate, he applied oil to the hinges. His practice of lubrication made life a little easier for those who followed after him.

Almost every day, we encounter folks whose lives creak and grate harshly with life’s problems. In such situations we have two choices — either to aggravate their problems with a critical attitude, or to lubricate their lives with the attitude of Christ.

Some people we meet carry unbearable burdens and long for the oil of a sympathetic word (Acts 9:26-27). Others are defeated and feel like giving up. Just one drop of encouragement could restore their hope. Still others are mean and sin-hardened. Such people can become pliable toward the saving grace of Christ through regular applications of the oil of kindness.

As Christians, when we study and make application of God’s inspired word (2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 5:14), we can rely on the Scriptures equipping us to bless others (2 Timothy 3:16-17) . If we’re prepared to pour out God’s oil of helpfulness every day and everywhere, beginning at home, we’ll minister Christ’s beauty and the oil of joy to many hurting people.

Dear reader, maybe the old man with the oil can wasn’t so eccentric after all!

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets