Three questions, all the same: “What should we do?” Three answers that pretty much cover the whole of our responsibility with one another.
The setting is very clearly laid out in scripture. Luke 3 leaves no doubt about when and where the events occurred.
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God’s word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the vicinity of Jordon, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah. — Luke 3:1-4a (HCSB)
Can anything be more clear? These are verifiable facts, historical details.
He then talks about the coming of the Messiah, the Anointed One — the very One the Jews had been awaiting for thousands of years. And he talks about repentance, the only way to prepare for this Coming One. Sins forgiven. Salvation. I underlined five words in my Bible: filled, low, straight, smooth, salvation. Each of these words describe something God would do.
Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight! Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked will become straight, the rough ways smooth, and everyone will see the salvation of God. — Luke 3:4b-6 (HCSB)
Next, he talks about producing fruit consistent with repentance. If you are truly repentant, you will do the works that prove you are sorry for your sins, straightened up, smoothed out, saved. In fact, “every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” (v. 9)
Thus, the question.
What should we do?
It was repeated three times, from three parts of society: the crowds, the tax collectors, and the soldiers. The answer is stunning, because it shows how to treat others in society.
- With Compassion — To the crowds: ”The one who has two shirts must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same.” (v. 11)
- With Integrity — To the tax collectors: ”Don’t collect any more than what you have been authorized.” (v. 13) The Message says, “No more extortion…”
- With Respect — To the soldiers: ”Don’t take money from anyone by force or false accusation; be satisfied with your wages.” (v. 14) I prefer how The Messages puts it: ”No shakedowns, no blackmail — and be content with your rations.”
Wow. I was stunned when I read this today. This is Biblical counseling in a nutshell. An entire library of psychological advice summed up in three sentences. A recipe for human relationships that can stand all trials, setbacks, frustrations and resentments.
- The first — Compassion — has to do with putting others first. Instead of being all about me, it’s all about you. I will share what I have with you. I will notice your need and do something about it. Jesus added a promise to those who practice compassion: ”Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” (Mark 10:21)
- The second — Integrity — has to do with being fair. How do you want to be treated? Then do the same for others. Do you wish they would apologize to you? Then apologize to them. Do you wish someone would cherish you? Then cherish them. Do you wish someone would notice you? Then notice them. Jesus said this sums up the entire Law and the Prophets: ”Do to others what you would have them do to you.” (Matthew 7:12)
- The third — Respect — has to do with how you see others. Do you see them as your servants? Were they created to meet your needs? Were you meant to walk all over them, to push your way to the front of a crowd, or to expect help, resources or energy that they don’t have? No. With God’s help, we can see others through His eyes, through His love.
Finally, from the third “What should we do” question in verse 14, we can be “satisfied with our wages.” Dealing with others in our world helps to balance out our need to learn Compassion, Integrity and Respect. For years, I resented the fact that my husband isn’t the first one to pick up a snow shovel around here. I finally realized that my resentment was just as wrong as his lack of energy with a shovel. Maybe my need of patience and forgiveness was more important than the condition of our driveway. Maybe the removal of my resentment (through simple repentance) was more important than the removal of snow.
When resentment, anger, bitterness, selfishness, disrespect and such things are removed by God through repentance, what remains? Compassion, Integrity and Respect, among other virtues. What a brilliant sermon John just gave us in far fewer words than I used.
If you would like to show your love to a child in need this Christmas season, you can do so by sponsoring a child through Compassion International (click the words in red to see children awaiting sponsors). I know for a fact that they work with Compassion, Integrity and Respect. It is all about helping the children to meet their God-given potential, being honest and fair in all financial details, and giving the poor the honor and dignity they need to realize how much they are loved. I can’t recommend this enough. It has completely changed my outlook in life.
Sheep Fold