The Encourager
Have you heard of the Redneck Toolbox? It’s simply duct tape and WD-40. If it moves and it’s not supposed to… use duct tape. If it doesn’t move, and it’s supposed to…use WD-40. Those products have a multitude of uses, but for what were they made?
In the 1940’s, in the height of World War II, a worker at a munitions plant was made aware of a flaw in the packing of ammunition boxes. The boxes were sealed with paper tape and dipped in wax to waterproof the boxes. Her sons who were serving in the military informed her that the paper tape tab would break thereby making the boxes difficult to open in a timely manner. So, she developed a cloth tape with a rubberized exterior to seal the boxes and make them easier to open. The tape was affectionately called duck tape as the water rolled off it like a duck’s back. After the war, many builders attempted to use the material on air ducts without success, but the name duct tape stuck (no pun intended).
In the 1960’s, as NASA was implementing its space exploration program, a flaw was discovered in their planning— though the Florida climate was advantageous, the setting proved to be problematic. The salty, humid air was causing rust and corrosion on the metal components and a solution needed to be found. The 40th formula tested for water dispersal proved to do the trick. Not foreseeing the marketing value of the product, it retained its test name: WD-40.
I think it’s fair to say, that most, if not all of us, do not have munitions boxes or rockets in our backyards; yet, we have WD-40 and duct tape, and we use them for any number of good uses—but not for what they were made.
For what were you made? You were created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand. Are you doing good things, or are you doing the good works God has called you to do? If we aren’t careful, we can do any number of good things, but not do the right thing—that thing to which God has called us. Now hear me, I am in no way saying that good works save us from our sins; but we are called to obedience, and that obedience is in doing the good works which God has prepared for us to do.
What are your gifts? What is your passion? Are you using them in obedience and service to the Father? If not, why not?