Day 14. Our Every-Day Life
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The people asked, "What should we do?"
John replied, "If you have two coats, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry."
Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, "Teacher, what should we do?"
"Show your honesty," he replied. "Make sure you collect no more taxes than the Roman government requires you to."
"What should we do?" asked some soldiers.
John replied, "Don't extort money, and don't accuse people of things you know they didn't do. And be content with your pay."
Luke 3:10-14
In John's several answers to the different inquiries made of him, we see that religion is not something entirely apart from our every-day life. He did not tell these men to fast for a week, or to leave their business and retire to a monastery, or to enter upon a long course of devotions. Nothing of the kind! They were to begin at once to live according to God's commandments in their own particular calling, to do their every-day work religiously.
The "people" were to begin to practice the law of love, thus giving up their greed and selfishness.
The "tax collectors" were to cease to practice extortion, and begin to deal honestly and justly with all men.
The "soldiers" were to refrain from all acts of violence. He did not tell them to give up their calling — but to do their duty as good and true men in their calling, to carry the principles of true religion into all their actions.
It is well for us to catch this lesson. A good many people think that being a Christian is to pray a few moments morning and evening, to read a daily chapter or two in the Bible, and to attend church on Sundays. These duties are important as means of grace — but they are not true religion. Genuine religion is living out the principles of Christianity in one's ordinary week-day life. It is getting the Bible and the prayers and the services — into thought and act and character.
We must not cut our lives in two, and call one part secular, governing it by one set of principles; and regarding the other part as sacred, to be controlled by another set of rules. All of life is to be made religious, in the sense that everything is to be done in such a way as to please God, under the direction of His counsel. We have just as much true religion — as we get into our week-day life, and not a whit more! Whatever we do, even to eating and drinking — we should do in the name of the Lord Jesus.
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