I have always loved basketball, which was some kind of torture, being 5’6” tall. In Middle School I made up for my lack of height by being the “Charlie hustle” point guard.
What I lacked physically, I made up for with hustle. Eventually, I could not overcome my short stature, but in Middle School I was the starting point guard.
Halfway through my ninth-grade season, the team was floundering, and morale was low. Effort lagged and the coach sat the team down and told us that we would have new starters in the next game.
He told us that the effort was lacking and if we wanted to return to the starting lineup, we would have to make some changes and earn our way back.
Although the analogy breaks down at several points, particularly the work your way back part, the situation is similar to the situation described in Luke 3:7-14.
In this passage John calls the starting team to get it together!
John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." "What should we do then?" the crowd asked. John answered, "Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same." Even tax collectors came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely-- be content with your pay." (Lk. 3:7-14 NIV)
John the Baptist emerges into the life of Israel with a message of repentance announcing the coming wrath of God and paving the way for the arrival of Israel’s Messiah.
In Luke 3, he calls the people of God to turn away from their current sinful and fruitless life. As the people of God, the descendants of Abraham, they had been called to be a blessing to the nations.
Instead they embraced the lifestyle of the world around them and became like the nations. If they wanted to experience the fruitful life God intended for them and become a people that blessed the nations, repentance and a new life was necessary.
Those who traveled out into the wilderness heard that message and were stricken by the call to repentance asking what they should do?
John responds to three groups, the soldiers (vs. 14), the tax collectors (vv. 12-13) and the large crowd (vv.10-11). In this blog, on giving, our attention is on this last large group.
John urges them to be generous to others in two ways. The first is clothing and the second food.
God’s People Are Called to Live Generously
I grew up in a family with four siblings, two sisters and two older brothers. Mom and dad were not wealthy, and we had periods in the life of our family where we came on hard times financially.
Even during the good days I remember sitting at the table thinking I had better eat fast. I unconsciously developed a “get it while the getting is good” mentality regarding food.
On my first high school date, it was really awkward when I finished the main course before my date had finished her salad. Even after forty years of marriage my wife still has to remind me to slow down when I am eating. Generosity regarding food is not intuitive.
John’s message was not just about sharing food, he urges the people with two garments to share one with someone in need.
In that day, many people wore two garments with one serving as an undergarment with another over it. This is referred to in other passages.
“If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.” Luke 6:29 NIV
It is also clear that not everyone was clothed with two shirts.
“Wear sandals but not an extra shirt.” Mark 6:9 NIV
John is calling the inquiring crowd to be aware of those around them in need and be generous to them. This is the same intent regarding food.
The overarching point seems to be that the people of God be characterized by care and concern for others and act with generosity.
This is not something new but is actually a restatement of principle outlined in the law and spoken of by John’s prophetic predecessors.
John’s teaching is nothing more than what has already been stated in Scripture. Examples would be (Isaiah 1:10-20 and 58:6-7). Ezekiel said it this way.
““Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right. He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or have sexual relations with a woman during her period. He does not oppress anyone, but returns what he took in pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked. He does not lend to them at interest or take a profit from them. He withholds his hand from doing wrong and judges fairly between two parties. He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 18:5-9 NIV
John was calling the crowd to return to being the people of God, characterized in this case by generosity to others. For John, being a blessing to the nations meant expressing generosity to others.
Nations would see God’s people acting in generosity, a different way of living. Unlike the nations around them, God’s people would express love and concern for others through generous giving.
While others might be consumed with stock piling more and more material possessions, the people of God would be consumed with generosity towards others.
The new Kingdom of God, led by Messiah Jesus would embrace this kind of generosity, exactly as God had always intended for His people.
Today we live in a society where the accumulation of material wealth is paramount. We have noted in earlier writing that the creation of wealth is made possible by God (Deuteronomy 8).
That wealth is to be used for advancing God’s Kingdom. John reminds us that this occurs through acts of generosity towards those in need.
Our world has many that are in need, and our society has people lacking food and clothing. In our church families are those in need. God calls us to be a blessing to the nations by being a shining beacon of generosity.
Several weeks ago, brush fires ravaged areas in metropolitan Los Angeles. Thousands of homes were burnt to the ground while firefighters worked tirelessly at risk of life and limb to fight the fires.
During that time churches in Los Angeles set up feeding areas for displaced residents and the exhausted workers dealing with the crisis. One of my friends was serving at the feeding station alongside teams from several Calvary Chapels.
While eating at a table with a couple who had lost their home, the discussion turned to the love of Christ that was flowing through the tangible gift of food and love from the church members.
The husband was brought to tears when his wife broke down in tears and surrendered her life to Christ, right there over the meal.
John reminds us to make ourselves a blessing to the nations by turning away from the shallow ways of the world and embracing a life of generosity.
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