“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.” Matthew 5:16

I read a story about how an old man carried a little can of oil with him everywhere he went. If he passed through a door with squeaky hinges, he put a little oil on the hinges. If the gate was hard to open, he poured a little oil upon the latch.

Every day he found a variety of ways to use his pocket oil to others’ advantage. Neighbors thought he was eccentric, but he went on his way, doing all within his power to lubricate the hard places and make life easier and more enjoyable for others.

This made me wonder about how many people probably notice the squeaky door, but did nothing about it. I wonder how many people struggled to get the gate opened, but still did nothing about it. They probably complained. They probably huffed and puffed, but they still did nothing about it. Those people are uniform. They will complain about a problem, but do nothing to fix it.

Jesus was able to spot out the “different” ones. The stories we know and tell aren’t of the ones with the popular people. We share the story of the woman at the well. The woman that no one wanted. The woman that was just passed by. That woman was a squeaky hinge. Jesus was different. He was God that came down 42 generations, born in a manger, grew up as a carpenter’s son, but He was about His Father’s business. Jesus didn’t have oil, but He used His power to heal the sick, raise the dead, and give sight to the blind. With His power the crippled walked and withered hands made whole. Jesus was different. Jesus died a death that we never saw, but are reaping the benefits from.

So let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven. They may see your works, but they will not always know it was you that did it.

Life as a Christian isn’t about recognition or who does the most. It is not about getting a pat on the back or a high five. It is about being about your Father’s business and getting it done. So pray for the person that you see struggling, but never asks for help. Leave a snack for someone that you may notice never has a lunch. Drop a dollar bill on the ground on purpose. Be different. Being different is some times the blessing someone else needs.