Simple Truth From John the Baptist About How to Live and Work

Key Scripture: And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.” Luke 3: 10-14 (ESV)

I think back on the first couple of weeks at my first real job after I graduated twenty-one years ago. I remember being nervous but excited and ready to go in there, look important and show them, even if I had to pretend, that I was equipped and ready to not just do my job but to do it exceptionally well and get noticed. I wanted to be seen as the “you’re gonna get great service and instruction right here” girl.

High goals. Funny, I don’t remember thinking “I’m gonna go in there and serve them so well that everyone around me will be better at what they do.” I’m pretty sure I never thought that.

I had no idea that I could’ve had greater influence had I thought like a servant who was focused on making those in her path more successful instead of thinking about what she wanted to gain. Pam Tebow wrote about this epiphany in her book Ripple Effects, where she mentions wishing she could get a work “do-over.” I agree!

I didn’t go in there thinking about NOT helping my colleagues or NOT being a good team player, but I wish I had realized that I could have had greater impact in my sphere of influence had I intentionally demonstrated a servant’s heart. I didn’t normally step out of self-preservation mode, and I wasn’t very familiar with the “I am second” principle echoed in Matthew 23:11-12: “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” I didn’t know about the power of not putting myself first.

When I was reading through the Gospels before Christmas, three instructions from John the Baptist I had never noticed before seemed highlighted on the page. He gave these instructions to challenge the people in preparation for their Messiah, and his requests compelled me to think about my own history of certain behaviors in my life and work.

These one-line instructions were given to people in the crowd, as well as tax collectors and soldiers, all waiting to be baptized. These people had just been informed by John that they couldn’t rely on blood lines to be seen as right with God, that what they thought was enough wasn’t enough, so when the people asked, “What should we do then?”, they really wanted to know what in the world they needed to do (or CHANGE) to get things right with God. (And this would also provide a much needed breath of fresh air to the people they interacted with each day.)

The work of our lives might seem very different from the work we equate with tax collectors and soldiers of the Bible, but if we mix in our current “me” culture, we may be in for a little humbling.

John’s instructions and what they mean for us:

1. “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” (spoken to the crowd)

• Be generous.

• If you have more stuff than you need, pass it on to those who need it.

• Have regard for needs of others, and be ready to help.

• Questions to ask yourself: “If I have extra, am I ready and willing to share?,” “Am I content with what I have, or do I have the tendency to frequently want better or more (and does this interfere with my generosity or helping others in need)?,” “Are money management issues reducing my generosity?”

2. “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” (spoken to the tax collectors, whose identity was their profession)

• Be honest.

• Be satisfied with your compensation (content).

• Have regard for the needs of others.

• Questions to ask yourself: “Would I ever consider cheating a little to advance in my work?”, “Do I often compare my work with others who have more status causing me to think i’m being devalued?”, “Am I thinking of serving others as I work, potentially helping to bring out their best?”

3. “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.” (spoken to the soldiers, whose identity was their profession)

• Don’t use intimidation or dishonesty to get your way.

• Be satisfied with your compensation (content).

• Have regard for the needs of others.

• Questions to ask yourself: “How determined am I to get my way in my spheres of influence?”, “Am I able to put aside thoughts of my own gain in order to have more compassion for the needs of others?”

In living out these themes of generosity, honesty, contentment and regard for the needs of others, we get to experience the fullness of unselfish living and impacting those around us in incredible ways with opportunities for lasting influence – the power of losing self.

“When God’s love rules in our hearts, they are enlarged with the capacity to serve.”
Pam Tebow, Ripple Effects.