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The Redemptive Value of OilBy Rod Keesee
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There was once an old man who carried a little can of oil with him everywhere he went. If he should pass through a door that squeaked, he would pour a little oil on the hinges. If a latch were stuck or resisted opening, he would oil it. He went through life lubricating all the hard-to-open places through which he went, trying to make it easier not only for himself but for all who might follow him.
Some people called this man eccentric. They called him peculiar. They called him odd. They called him other names even less flattering. Some even referred to him as "that oilcan man," as a sign of ridicule; but the old man went steadily on, refilling his oilcan when it became empty, oiling those arduous places that he found along his way.
He did not always wait to see or hear a creaky door or rusty hinge and then run back home to get his oilcan; rather, he always carried his oilcan with him. The thing was that this old man was a man with purpose: always seeking doors or hinges to help.
I have just read to you the first half of a story, which I will finish later, entitled, "Oil of Kindness." It struck me how much this story differs from the inconsistent and typical behavior of this world and how it contrasts the world's inconsistency with what God desires to supply fairly, plenteously, and with the same cost to each one of us. This point was more firmly embedded as I began to think of and recognize how every one of us in God's church strives to live in this very imperfect world with all of its squeaks and gratings--following the oilcan man's example, I hope—but with standards and ingredients foreign to most of this world, because they just do not know about that type of oil.
I will pose a few questions today and also try to answer them.
How do you and I measure up, not only to the basic standards of our oilcan man, but to the task of efficiently using the supply of oil that God freely gives to each one of us, held inside our own personal oilcans? Look in the mirror. You just saw your oilcan!
Perhaps we might call it your lamp representing the Life we each have within us. As John Ritenbaugh has been trying to show us already, oil is the fuel that we receive from God that helps us to share in the power that God gives us; it is a bridge for what God gives us. Is our lamp full of God's oil? Are we beaming Christ's light? Are we oiling our own paths as well as other people's paths, representing Christ as we ought to at the Feast?
How would you judge—how would you discern—your ability to use God's never-ending supply of oil? It is never going to end, and t has various forms indicated in the Bible, representing the many things that God's power allows us to have and do. Do you see your self as a valuable resource using that oil as a marker, perhaps, for someone who may come along after you, as our old oilcan man tried to do—someone who may follow your path in life, whether here at the Feast or at home in their everyday lives?
If you are like me, the very first parable that came to mind was that of the wise and foolish virgins, found in Matthew 25. We see here a lesson about being prepared, being very vigilant, being in a state of readiness—but we also see a lesson of lethargy or, perhaps, forgetfulness. We will see a bit later how this may apply to us as seen even within this short story symbolized by oil.
I am going to give you eight very quick examples from scripture that you can look up later where oil is mentioned in the Bible: The first is Leviticus 8:12 where it is used in Aaron's ordination, setting him apart for his special purpose. The second is in James 5:14, the familiar scripture about anointing with oil by the elders for illness. The third is in Joel 2:19 where it is a symbol of abundance--yet if you go back a chapter, in Joel 1:10, you will find a fourth, that the lack of oil is a sign of famine. It is also noted in these ways: It is added to offerings in Leviticus 2:4. It is a food in Deuteronomy 7:13. As we also saw in Matthew 25, Exodus 27:20, and many others, it is a fuel of illumination. Finally, in Luke 10:34, it is a medicinal ointment. We see here seven good uses and one that is not so good.
As you know, oil is also a sign, a symbol of our obedience to God. It is really one of the reasons why we are here today. Speaking of sharing in the blessings that God has given us in this Feast of Tabernacles,
Deuteronomy 14:23 "And you shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide [do we believe this?], the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil [again, provided by God], of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always."
Each year it is like a refresher course here at the Feast. It is also a time of reflection. It is like a time to get your oil changed.
Now turn to a very familiar scripture concerning something that we share right here in this room. For God's people begin to learn how to appreciate and share what we are, what we have as Christians: our unity.
Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Do we believe that? Do we think about the people in Tobago, South Africa, the Philippines, and wherever else? Are we there in unity of spirit with them? I hope we are.
Psalm 133:2-3 It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments [this oil is special]. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing—life forevermore.
Is that not what we have been reminded about in the first message today? Is this not something for which we all look? Is this not the realization that God's power is being given to us, as we share with one another?
Proverbs 21 states that to complete our objective, we have to be similar to our old oilcan man's example—representative of how we live each and every day of our lives outside this room.
Proverbs 21:20 There is desirable treasure, and oil...
Oil can also be rendered richness. Do we feel rich here? Do we have the richness of God's Spirit?
Proverbs 21:20-21 There is desirable treasure, and oil [the richness of God] in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man squanders it. [The fool does not know what to do with it.] He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness and honor.
Again, how much are we like the old oilcan man? How much do we need to learn to be like the old oilcan man?
There are many scriptures on which I have not even touched, examples that address oil throughout the Bible. I was really quite surprised when I started looking at this. I got to thinking that perhaps all these scriptures symbolize each one of us here. Maybe you have your own scripture that says, "This is who you are" as keepers of God's oil. We are maintained through our ongoing changes of life, those ongoing oil changes that we have received, the refills that we always keep with us through prayer, study, meditation, and fasting for each of our own oilcans, lights, or lamps—us—within our Christian life. This is a special honor that God has given us.
Indeed, does not God's oil represent the many gifts God gives us, helping to fix our squeaks? As I get older, the arthritis is more noticeable, and I get out the ointments. They help. Does not God help the grating places that we sometimes have when we have trouble with someone? This provides a means for us to shine God's light. After all, God is the light; we are only the lamps. We have to let God's light shine through us, through our examples, words, and works.
As you know, we rehearse this every year we come together for the Feast. How do you retain the lessons? How do you keep it a part of you—this lubricating, this enlightening aspect of God's way of life? Do you see yourself as a holy vessel for God's oil? Do you see yourself as a lamp for Christ's light? This is something that you can take home with you and say, "You know, this is something special!" We have been reminded during this Feast why all these various things are happening to all of us. How are all these biblical uses for oil relevant and important to each one of us?
Times are getting tough, filled with unknown, heart-grating, nerve-racking problems. We recognize that events are speeding along; and it is not getting easier out there, with overflow in every direction. It is like when a dam bursts or a levee collapses or a massive oil spill in which everything is dirtied and you just do not know what to do. Does it not seem as if you are being hit with more than you can handle?
Let us switch gears just a bit. Compared to what the rest of this world has, do we recognize what we have going for us? We have so many trials coming at us; yet that precious gift of God's oil—representative of many of God's gifts to us—and those many blessings make it a little bit easier to live this life, lubricating our journey, helping to focus our minds where they should be.
To appreciate our calling is similar to what our old oilcan man was doing: He was trying to lubricate his own walk of life with God-provided oil, not only so that his journey might be easier but, perhaps more importantly, he recognized that there was much more to life than himself. His efforts were for the others who might come across his path a bit later.
Isaiah 61 is prophetic of a time of great heartache. It is also a time of grave responsibility that will be accompanied by acts of dependability and kindness. There is reserved a place of honor for those who succeed.
Isaiah 61:1-6 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor. [You may not be ordained, but you can apply these words to yourself. You should.] He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, [that will be a responsibility we share] to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, [How can you provide something if you do not know you have it? Again, you must know it] and they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. [We know that we will one day be a part of this.] Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the foreigner shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But you shall be named the priests of the LORD [I Peter 2:9 also goes on to talk about being taken out of the darkness. How do we get out of the darkness if we do not have the suitable fuel to get there?], you shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory you shall boast.
This honor goes to any one of us who has God's Holy Spirit (symbolized by the many uses of oil that we have seen so far), who has willingly done or who actually wants to do not only what is expected but, as it says in Luke 17:10, to go above and beyond, to be a profitable servant, to be that service station guy who does the service rather than the self-serve by the customer. We see here the individual, Isaiah, who could have easily been any one of us being used to figuratively help wherever possible by oiling—anointing, if you will—the needs of the poor and afflicted.
What about our words, deeds, actions? Being prepared means that the opportunity to make a significant difference is within one's grasp. Here is why: With God effort often equals success. You cannot stand on the sidelines; you must get into the game and put your foot forward. Through their successful endeavors, we see individuals like us eventually receiving the place of honor that we all want to have one day by the very One who supplies our strength—God, pictured by oil—giving us the ability to do so.
How special is oil now?
Please notice the phrase redeeming the time in the following passage.
Ephesians 5:8-11, 13-18 For you were once darkness, [You did not have any oil. Before we were called we did not know what it meant to have that oil.] but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light [You have to be attached to the Source—the Power—to continue being that light.] (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them...But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light." See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. [We know what the Lord's will is because we have access to God's oil. We know what matters.] And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit...
I thought of this scripture after reading the story, because the old oilcan man never left home without his oilcan, and he always made sure that it was full. People were also very aware of what our oilcan man was doing. In fact, they even recognized the fact that they benefited from his efforts. Because he was always prepared, he did not have to waste time and effort going back home to get the can of oil.
In the church, we sometimes say, "I messed up so badly that I have to start over again." Have we let our oil tank drain down too far? The oilcan man did not do that. He was always ready for whatever opportunity or obstacle that might lie ahead. He had the desire to use that oil. Our old oilcan man needed to use that oil. We do, too.
What we have in common with our old oilcan man, based on the scriptures in Ephesians 5 is that we reside in this world, being noticed by this world as an example, without being an integrated part of this world. We lubricate by example—words and deeds. Most of us strive not to waste any motion that might help someone else along the way, but we want to do it God's way without compromising any godly values. It is not about us; it is about what we can do.
We struggle all the time to not be like this carnal world. We try to be someone who actually makes a qualified difference, because we are being qualified right now as Christians, are we not? We also try to make a quantitative difference, even if it is only in our own itty-bitty corner of the world.
You might ask, "Why does it matter what I do?" It does because we see those who were prepared, those who had desire to use their resources properly. We are all familiar with the parable of the talents, and the parable of the pounds. The oilcan man and we are not the one-talent people. This man wanted to use what he had wisely without wastefulness, as a much-needed service to others, and do what needed to be done, even in the face of ridicule, scorn, and all the other evil around him. As we see in both cases, these are individuals who strive to follow God's wishes. The oilcan man could have said, "I am just going to skip this block; it is not important," but he did not do that. Regardless of what everyone else around him was doing, he tried to use God's way of life—these gifts—as his guide. You might say that his ongoing efforts and examples, even through ridicule, became his light and power to be seen in their little corner of the world.
We are all familiar with Psalm 23, one of the most popular psalms of all time. There is also a reference to oil in this Psalm: "...You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil..."
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down..." We all know David's heartfelt words by rote. They are directed toward God, toward the restorative powers that He can give back to us. David speaks of his journey being aptly aided by God during the times of trouble. We have a very outgoing and giving God—a God whose service station never runs out of oil. Finally, he speaks of his reassurance.
Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
He was confident that he was going to be within God's house. I think most of us read these words often as a means of receiving comfort and support from the same God to whom David prayed.
What else can we learn in our own quest, taking this scripture as a guide to better use God's premium brand of oil? How often do you or I make a Psalm 23 situation not just about us—our trials, our difficulties? How often do you make it a personal call of responsibility? You might call it a fiduciary duty similar to the ongoing efforts of our old oilcan man or the woman Mary spoken of in John 12. Here is a woman doing something to God-in-the-flesh, using oil or ointment.
John 12:2-5 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. [You might even compare it to God's power, because it was just everywhere!] Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?"
On the surface that sounded good, did it not? Of course, he did not really care about the poor. He did not care about anything except himself. He wanted it for himself; he had the money box.
John 12:7-8 But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always."
Mary was symbolically using her precious oil on God-in-the-flesh as she saw it her duty to do so. What about from our perspective? How many of us would have used the oil as Mary saw the need to do? Would you have said, "Hey! That is expensive oil! Is this really what God wants done?" Would we have hesitated, waited, procrastinated, or even used Judas Iscariot's seemingly valid excuses for our reasoning not to use it? How many of us are doing the same thing? How many of us are saving our supply of oil for a rainy day or for a "more important" situation?
We are all familiar with Ezekiel 22:30, about looking for someone to stand in the gap. Was our oilcan man someone for whom God might have been looking, who could actually stand in the gap? Could we be that person, even though it is such a small gesture like that?
All the things talked about thus far are viable examples that we, too, must follow as we personally use and share the benefits of God's oil types by further sharing our various total gift of life values. Every one of these has a value to us that God gives as we share it with others as we are able. Did we not say that the first seven uses of oil mentioned previously were a light source, healthy food, abundant life, sanctification, healing expectations, a portion of an acceptable offering, and even a much needed medicine? Can you see any of those things applying to you right now? I hope you can.
Did God just happen to involve oil in all of these various instances by happenstance—or are they noted for our edification and growth, to see and experience and know how God's power can work through us by the various gifts He gives us? Again, where do we fit in the equation? Do we see it and use it as a sign of God's prosperity through our proper usage, or do we fall to some level of famine through human reasoning or neglect? Think about this.
Can we be as prone as some are to wait and procrastinate because we believe that we have plenty of time to overhaul ourselves? Have we thrown a rod because we did not have enough oil in our engine? Was this part of the problem with the five Laodicean virgins in Matthew 25? Is this perhaps something that God wants us to understand as well?
Can we allow our containers—our lives, lamps, what we are—to lose or leak oil? Are we not using the oil in any of these good ways rather than actively receiving replenishment from this never-ending source—God? Is there a small leak somewhere?
Because we all come here to the Feast of Tabernacles to be refilled with God's oil, we want to go home with so much that it is coming out of our ears, do we not? How many of you have ever overfilled your engine with oil? It smokes a lot. That is kind of what we want, right—"Just smokin'"? It is much easier to do right now what we are describing because we are in this wonderful place, giving and receiving during these days. What happens after we leave, though, and it becomes more about just you and me again?
I once asked this in an offertory on the Day of Atonement: "If you are only empty inside and you did not have any food in your belly and you did not have any money to offer because the tribulation had hit or something of that nature, what would God expect from you? Obviously, the answer is "You," as the holders and illuminators and users of the precious gift of oil, giving back—to God, obviously, in obedience, prayer, fellowship, and worship—but also to anyone who might cross or follow our path of life and needs what we have to offer.
We all do not have the same size personal oilcan; we just do not. Our lamps might represent any talents or abilities that any of us might have or have been given or that we have developed. Is not having the same size oilcan as someone else really a valid excuse for letting any God-provided oil to leak out? How many people have let God's oil get old and rancid because it is not being used? How many lose their oilcan and their supply altogether through misuse or neglect like the well-known one-talent or one-pound man in the parables?
You may not be up here like I am, doing something in service. You may think I must have a barrel-sized oilcan because I am up here. However, God expects that much more out of me, too. In every case in this room, God expects you to use whatever size of container of personal oil that you have been given—regardless of your present station.
Luke 12 talks about doing things in due season:
Luke 12:42 And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?"
We are here to receive our portion in due season; we want to be refilled. Then, he goes through things about those who did not want to do it the right way and the penalties that followed:
Luke 12:48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
God wants a great deal from each one of us. It does not matter how many stripes you have on your sleeve; it does not matter how many years you have been in the church. God has expectations of all of us.
Are we not here in due season wanting to be fed and oiled by what we hear and how we act and respond? How much does God require from each one of us, just a little or a lot? Is not our ultimate test verified through life when we are out among this world, striving to live by what we hear? More importantly, as it says in James 1:22-25, we are to be active doers and not just hearers. When we look in the mirror, how often do we really see what God sees or what other folks see?
We have received so much from God. James 1 really simplifies the equation, because it does not take skill, or title. It does not make past history the most relevant thing to God. Rather, it is what each one of us must do continually with what we have been provided.
Our old oilcan man had one small oilcan, yet look at what he did with it. Our oilcan man and Mary were hearers and doers. They were not trying to do what someone else thought that they should not do. Imagine if somebody stood up—especially someone like Judas, who was pretty important at that time—and said, "Why are you doing this?" I will tell you, they felt a duty to do it. The fact is that neither of them waited for permission or a time of more convenience; they just did what needed to be done as the opportunity arose. In each case, what they found to do was right in front of them as they tried to make a small but significant, productive amount of difference wherever they could.
Sometimes we look at things differently because often we seek to walk an easier path. Where do we fall between these two camps? How many of you try to make Christianity too simple? How many of you think that Christianity is too demanding? How many are guilty of even another extreme of feeling that, since we never measure up to God's standards, why use His oil anyway? Remember why God has called and chosen each one of you, the subject on which John gave us a great sermon yesterday. What part of the equation must include the lives we live, the choices we make, by using the resources—these gifts—that God so willingly gives to each one of us?
Obviously, God wants something from us. He wants our allegiance. He wants our obedience. I hope we have proven ourselves by being like the old-fashioned full-service gas station guy, coming out really willing and able to serve you in any way possible, with a smile on his face. How often do we do that?
I remember when I first came into the church as a teenager. It always amazed me that, in God's plan, the last Holy Day was about somebody else. It just did not make sense to me.
Our works oil the way for someone else in the future. Could it be that our jobs of oiling are just beginning? This is a reminder that this Christian journey is not just about us but also whomever we may help along the way with our little oilcans. It may be in a way that they may not even know until later, like the old oilcan man did.
How much of our lives and efforts are like Mary's and our old oilcan man's, lubricating others' lives through service and sacrifice, despite ridicule? We have all been ridiculed for this way of life, but do we just keep going because of the oil that we have? How much like Mary and the oilcan man are we in exhibiting Christ's light to others, even to those who do not know why we are doing it? Maybe they even take umbrage because they do not like that for which you stand.
The simple truth is that we recognize that for every hard-to-open gate, door, or hinge through which we walk in this life, we leave a small mark of our presence. We do this by constantly changing, even being refilled with godly oil by God's word and allowing His Spirit to come into the containers He provides, represented by the very acts we do.
The oilcan man's story continues: There are many lives that creak and grate harshly day by day. They need lubricating with a different type of oil representative of all the fruit and the characteristics of God's Holy Spirit. This man's can of oil—this small, tiny, insignificant can of oil—is figurative of the one we should all have—in fact, we all do have it—that predominately characterizes the true Christian religion—God's way of life—practicing God's word.
The task of following this old oilcan man's example belongs to anyone who claims to be a true Christian. As the old man kept his oilcan, we need to keep our Christian oilcan handy and available. It does no good if it is left or forgotten at home or even is used only within the church.
I thought that this was a powerful story as I read through the whole thing. It does indeed bring a point home that we all need to remember: I hope we all recognize that each one of us represents a committee of one. As you see God's church scattered more and more, it is becoming more and more like committees of one. God wants to know for what you and I stand and where we are. We let Him know this by our endeavors to properly use the physical and spiritual oil God gives to each one of us.
However, like the ten virgins in Matthew 25, we cannot share anything that oil may represent if we allow it to leak out, leaving barely enough for ourselves. We do have, though, the wonderful opportunity to individually and collectively use God's never-ending supply of oil within these personal containers—these lamps—regardless of sex, race, or background.
Here is the thing: Everyone in this room paid the same price. The cost is always the same: God's continual mercy and forgiveness, while we give our obedience through faith and works using the power that God provides—God's Standard Oil.
One of the main lessons we learn from our old oilcan man story is one of preparedness and proper usage. It is not allowing substandard or the counterfeit lubricants of this world's way to spoil or dilute the precious oil that God alone provides. He does not want artificial oil in His mix. He wants His pure, authentic stuff.
Like the petroleum industry, we must drill deep to find and capture this most precious commodity within the examples we have seen today, as well as the living examples we see following God's leave around us. Psalm 23 shows it as being an ample oil and life supply for others, having God's expectations, but also doing it ourselves. It is keeping our lamps and containers full and ready and making good and proper use of our time and efforts by keeping our lives away from the squeakiness of this world, the hardened ways, the blindness, and all the other evils.
It is practicing and living the Christian way of life, just as Mary did in her simple little act of kindness—by being doers and not merely hearers or spectators. It is always looking back into the mirror that God provides—trying to see what God sees—from His word and from one another and fixing those squeaks and blind spots that we might personally have. It is also being ready to oil others with our mercy, kindness, and love.
In short, it is redeeming the time that God has given each one of us in this human journey by seeking necessary oil changes. Is that not what we do every Passover? We go to God we say, "It is time to reflect again." Is it not similar to what you do when you go to get your car's oil changed?
Maybe we have a time of trial or difficulty and our filter becomes so clogged up and dirty by sin and turmoil that we need a change and refill. When we do this, we receive the freshest supply of oil possible. It is fresh from God, and it is a renewed relationship that helps to overhaul our inner man, thus helping us to overcome and change. It is actually laying the well-traveled path by what we do and say. All those in this world, whether now or later, will one day have access to God's unlimited and precious supply of this one-of-a-kind commodity. What kind of oil is the world chasing? It is not the right kind, is it? One day, they will chase the correct kind of oil.
Like our old oilcan man, we cannot allow the world's ways to deter what needs to be done and what is so often in short supply. Good deeds are often in short supply like this world's petroleum oil. Take every opportunity to be like Mary or the old oilcan man.
Let us all go away from this Feast of Tabernacles keeping our own supply of God's oil fresh. Renew it on a daily basis with God, getting that freshness back into our lives, keeping it in use. It circulates. It never gets old. It never gets stagnant. Just as the old oilcan man did, use it wherever it does the most good, even for those who just might pass by your little corner of the world.
RK/rwu/klg
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