Thought for the Day: Let's All Be Oil Can Carriers

In one of my favorite devotionals Streams in the Desert there is a beautiful story that illustrates the life of a servant.

The story tells of an elderly man who always carried a little can of oil with him wherever he went, and when he would go through a door that squeaked, he would squirt a little oil on its hinges. If he encountered a gate that was hard to open, he would pour oil on the latch. And so he went through life lubricating all or the difficult places, making it easier for all those who came after him, People called the man eccentric, strange and crazy, but that didn’t deter him as he went steadily on, often refilling his can of oil when it was near empty, and continuing to oil whatever difficult places he would find.

Now I don’t know if this is a true or apocryphal story, but it certainly presents a clear picture of what a servant is called to be.

You and I are called to be oil can carriers, and as we walk through life, we ought to be looking for those opportunities to make life a little easier for others. We ought to be looking for opportunities to lubricate the lives of both friends and strangers with a little oil of gladness, joy, generosity, kindness, compassion. There is always someone whose life would be made different because of the oil we spill on their lives.

Whether it be the oil of a kind word,  smile, a letter of appreciation or a phone call. It doesn’t take much time or effort to lubricate the lives of others with the love of Jesus, so keep that oil can full and take it with you wherever you go, as you look for ways to  make life a little easier for those you meet along the way.

Let us keep in mind the words of the Apostle Peter who exhorts us to "Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly-Not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God." 1 Peter 5:2

Yours in faith and friendship,

Pastor Tom