“...the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.”
– 1 Timothy 3:15

| Home | About Us | Archive | Articles | Comment | Directory/Churches | Links | News | Youth |

>> Comments >> It's An Oily Business

IT'S AN OILY BUSINESS

by Ong Kok Bin

Talking about distractions, diversions and worrisome worldliness: it is rather oxymoronic that Malaysia with its hills and hills of oil palm trees should be experiencing a shortage of cooking oil. But that is the trick that Father Time has sneaked on us just into this last second week of the new year. And it is driving us nuts.

Just imagine the other day I spied on this rather unusual scene: Old Kam Li, a neighbour, was shrieking to his wife, "Can't you hurry up. Let's quickly get to the Store and grab for ourselves two bottles of the 5 kg 'Hawk' cooking oil. Cooking oil is now a rationed item. They are limiting one customer to one 5 kg bottle. But if you and I go, you can get 1 bottle and I can get another. In this way, we can get two bottles and beat the rationing."

"Well, well," I thought to myself, "this is a most creative way to beat the system."

Just then, La Pa, a neighbour two doors away, was heard hollering at the top of his voice: "Let's call out all our anaks and cucus and we will get a bottle each. In this way, we will have enough oil for the Hari Raya this October."

"Well, well," I thought to myself, "this is a really most creative way to do a 'family thing' and beat the system too."
...
Have you got enough oil?

Ten maidens took their lamps and went out to receive the bridegroom. Five carried extra oil with them. The other five did not. Minutes turned to hours and there was still no sign of the bridegroom. The five who did not have extra oil with them became worried.

"Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out," they said to the five who had.

"No, there is not enough for all of us. Go and buy some for yourselves," was the reply.

The five maidens who were running out of oil had no choice but to leave so as to buy for themselves more oil for their dimming lamps. While they were gone, the bridegroom came. The five maidens who were wise enough to carry more oil with them went into the wedding banquet with the groom. And the door was shut.¹

Have you got enough oil with you - even for the long haul?

¹Matthew 25:1-13

Short-Takes
1. Conspiratorial Misrule
2. Redeeming the Time
3. It's an Oily Business
4. Lifting Holy Hands in Prayer
5. A Gracious People
6. Words, Words and Words
7. I Know Whom I Have Believed
8. Of Oddballs and Heroic Fights
9. The People Delivered a Tsunami
10. Joy in Troubled Times

| Home | About Us | Archive | Articles | Comment | Directory/Churches | Links | News | Youth |

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this page may be reproduced, in any form or by any means,
without permission, oral or written, from the Church of Christ, Seremban, Malaysia.