“A pot of oil”

In the fourth chapter of II Kings there is a brief narrative of a widow who was unable to pay her debts. Moreover, she was confronted with the demand that her two sons be given over to slavery to satisfy her creditors. But she had indicated her faith in God and her reason for expecting a solution of her difficulty in her words to Elisha, the prophet, “Thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord.”

In the Glossary to the Christian Science textbook, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” (p. 593), Mary Baker Eddy gives the spiritual meaning of the word “prophet” as “a spiritual seer; disappearance of material sense before the conscious facts of spiritual Truth.” Elisha inquired of the woman what she had in her house; and she replied, “Not any thing … save a pot of oil.” Looking away from the need, and from the pot of oil,—away from matter and material sense testimony, to the abundance of all good,—the prophet said, “Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels;” and he specifically indicated that she was to borrow “not a few.” With what wonder the woman must have listened to the demands made upon her that day! There was no hesitation, no argument, no compromise in the command of Elisha: “When thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.”

When she had come into the consciousness of the presence and power of God, and had shut the door upon all outside cares, anxieties, and claims, then she was to “pour out.” No doubt when she went to Elisha for help she was thinking of what she should receive; and lo, she was told to “pour out.” One with spiritual vision had turned her thoughts from self and selfish interests, fear, and lack to ever operative and ever available divine Love. Definite activity was required of her. She was to “pour out” the one thing she had in her house. Her sons were not to do it for her. True, they had their work to do—that of bringing in the empty vessels, all they could find. And when every one of these was filled, “the oil stayed”: the demonstration was made. Then the woman went again to see Elisha to report what she had done in obedience to his directions. Her obedience had prepared her for the next step: “Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.”

Oil was precious in those days and had many uses. Let us consider the import of the word in its spiritual meaning, as given in the Glossary of Science and Health (p. 592): “Oil. Consecration; charity; gentleness; prayer; heavenly inspiration.” Christian Scientists of to-day, are we pouring out this oil? There is no need so great, no fear so insistent, no exigency so urgent, but that in each house may be found a pot of oil waiting to be poured; and there are empty vessels at hand, “not a few,” waiting to be filled. Loving hearts and willing hands are needed that the treasures of Truth and Love may be poured into the empty places.

Every sick or poverty-stricken sense of life in matter is but an “empty” vessel waiting to be filled with “heavenly inspiration,” waiting for the prayer of affirmation, gratitude, and praise. Each student of Christian Science has in his house a pot of oil most precious, even his understanding of God, good, which awaits only the pouring out to prove abundantly able to meet the individual need, whatever it may be. God is the one infinite source of supply, and His care for His children is unfailing. One thought of Truth in the sacred sanctuary of divine consciousness, with the doors shut so that material sense may not enter with its aggressive suggestions, is sufficient—if poured out. Think of it! In the Old Testament narrative a pot of oil was the symbol by means of which a wonderful proof of God’s abundance was realized through the spiritual understanding of Elisha, the servant of God.

To-day, perhaps more than ever before, there is need for consecration in every line of constructive activity. There is need for charity, gentleness, and heavenly inspiration. Some aptitude or skill to do something, and do it well, may be one’s pot of oil only waiting to be poured out in order to prove the abundance of good. “What hast thou in the house?” Is there a measure of precious oil, garnered it may be from the stress of trials and experiences which have brought an abiding consciousness of God’s nearness? When Elisha instructed the woman that she should “pour out,” even in her time of greatest need, he reiterated a fundamental truth, gave a rule for demonstration which is traceable throughout the entire Scriptures, and which finds its fullest expression in the life and works of Christ Jesus, who said to his disciples, “Give, and it shall be given unto you.”