Oil

"Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart;
for God has already approved your works.
Let your clothes be white all the time,
and let not oil be lacking on your head.
Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life...
Whatever your hand finds to do,
do it with all your might..."
Eccl. 9:7-10

Solomon is speaking out of depression in the context of these verses, but still he speaks truth.  He has learned this truth first hand throughout his life and speaks wisdom.  This passage is not condoning the drinking of wine, but rather the enjoying of the necessities that we are given by God.  We are to work hard and enjoy the fruit of that labor. 

"Let your clothes be white all the time" speaks of purity.  We are to put on purity in all areas of our lives.  We tend to live a compartmentalized life.  We read our Bible on Sunday or even every morning, but then we put it and God on the shelf and we live the rest of the day or week in our own strength.  We are to "wear" purity everywhere we go.  We are to be pure in heart, in action, in mind, in our thought life, in our emotions, in our motives.  We do that by "let not oil be lacking on your head."

Oil is a metaphor for the Holy Spirit throughout Scripture.  If we recognize the Holy Spirit within us (as Christians) then we will choose purity.  For the Holy Spirit is there to convict us of wrong, teach us right, comfort us, and bring us before the throne of God through prayer.  When we are recognizing the Holy Spirit in our lives continually, then we will walk in purity.  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."(proverbs 3:5-6) 

In Mattthew 25:1-13 we see the parable told by Jesus of the virgins waiting to go out to the bridegroom.  Only those with oil in their lamps were allowed into the wedding feast.  Only Christians who are filled with the Holy Spirit will be allowed into the final feast as Jesus welcomes them into the kingdom of heaven.  Some thought they were ready, but had to leave to go refill their lamps with oil.  They were too late in coming back and were left out.  Be sure you are filled with the Holy Spirit through confession and repentance and the renewal of rebirth by your faith in Jesus.  Then remain pure as you walk with the Holy Spirit's leading day by day, minute by minute. 

Hint of the Day: Teach your kids about oil lamps.  If you have a hurricane lamp that is a good example.  But let them research oil lamps and the types of oil that was used.  It is an interesting study.  Then you can teach them about the oil in their lives.  Remember the old song, "Give Me Oil in MY Lamp, Keep Me Burning."?  It's a great song to teach your younger kids.
Think about oil. It was used to anoint kings, to send out messengers, to heal, and to bring the virgins before God. Christians are anointed as heirs to the kingdom, we are to be messengers of the good news, we are to be instruments of healing, and we are to stand before God in praise and worship. Only through the Holy Spirit can we do any of these things.