Giving of Myself

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 3:14

               In the context of this verse John the Baptist is telling a group of people that they must repent of their sin and therefore be forgiven of their sins. He tells the crowds to share their tunics and food and give to those who have none. To collect no more money than you are allowed to and to walk with upright conduct, being content with the wages that you receive. As someone who has grown up in the U.S. I have already been given so much. Just being born in the U.S. gives you more than a lot of what the rest of the world has. There are countries that still struggle for food, for clean water, for work, clothing, and sometimes for shelter. I can honestly say that I have never known starvation, I have never known what it’s like to not have water, good clothing, or even a roof over my head. And as I’m typing this up, I can’t help but think of how much I disregard these things on a daily basis. As I said John is telling these people here to share what they have and give to those in need. For God has blessed us with these things that we may share them and share His love in that way. Being a disciple of Christ means offering up your bodies to the Lord, and sometimes even our possessions. I want to be the kind of person that is able to willingly give of my possessions if someone is in need. And as I look at the things I do have, or even the money I was making at my job at home, (be content with your wages) I must be content. Being content also in the way of not looking at myself as better than those people that don’t have the things I do. I am no better than them! All the things I own or possess, even my talents and personality, are from the Lord. For as it says in James “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” So I think a part of being content is first realizing where all we have has come from and being thankful for it. And I pray that God would soften my heart to see those in need and to be open to giving of myself or what I have to bless them.

Application- look and pray for opportunities this week to give of myself and/or my possessions (the few that I have here)