Sharing

Luke 3:10-11 And the crowds asked John the Baptist, “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.”


When I think of John the Baptist I picture the ranting and loud raving of a fire and brimstone preacher telling people to repent of their sins. I think most people picture people falling to their knees while weeping for all the people they've hurt. God will sure take us back as we face our fallen selves and decide not to hurt anyone ever again. He would them baptize them so they would be washed clean from all their impurities. This was my understanding of the process.


After John had called them a brood of snakes however, when they asked what they needed to do, it was not any of those familiar pictures. John basically said share. He said to do good, do what's right. I've read this so many times and yet I had missed this line. Share that's what you need to do. Jesus says the same words over and over in his teaching, but I had not seen this precursor in the words of John the Baptist. Of course God's message would be consistent. The same threads are found in God's rules for the nation of Israel.


Simple isn't it? What then should we do? Share, that all, share.