Article January 13, 1934 Issue

The Consecrating Oil

PEARL E. WEST

In the Bible are many references to oil and its uses. Abel's offering of the firstlings of his flock and the fat thereof was acceptable to God; while Cain's, which was of the fruit of the ground, was not. In some of the rituals of the children of Israel, the offerings were to be prepared with oil; and kings were anointed with oil. That this use of oil was frequently symbolic is probable. The Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," gives this illuminating definition of "oil" (p. 592): "Consecration; charity; gentleness; prayer; heavenly inspiration."

The way to accomplishment along any line of endeavor must be through consecration. The Christian Scientist has dedicated himself to support of the church designed by our Leader to "reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing" (Church Manual, p. 17). With this goal before him, the student reaches forward with eagerness to that which will aid him in doing his part faithfully. One meaning of "consecrate" is to "make sacred"; so we must make sacred every phase of our life. We must consecrate both our desires and our daily lives, for thus will our desires and our lives be in accord. This does not mean that one should be a recluse. Jesus said, "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil." The test of one's life is to be faithful to human relationships, to be loving, kind, patient, joyous, whether managing a home or conducting a business; all must be done to the glory of God and to bless our fellow men. As one begins to see how much is to be gained through consecration to good, one longs for yet deeper consecration; and thus one's first step, a very important one, is taken.

This will be followed by a greater sense of tolerance and compassion, the charity that suffers long and is kind—unutterably kind. The world is in sore need of kindness, for many are laboring under heavy burdens of discouragement, doubt, humiliation, and fear. These errors must go down before the comfort of the understanding heart filled with charity. Mrs. Eddy threw a cloak of charity over every wrong, and lived what she wrote in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 130): "Know ye not that he who exercises the largest charity, and waits on God, renews his strength, and is exalted? Love is not puffed up."

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