Our Daily Life
“John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.” Luke 3:11
In John’s several answers to the different inquiries made of him, he made it very clear that religion is not something entirely cut off from our everyday life. He did not tell these men to fast for three days or to leave their business and enrol in a seminary or camp perpetually on a prayer mountain. No, nothing of the kind.
Rather, they were to begin immediately to live according to God’s commandments in their own particular calling, to do their everyday work conscientiously.
The “people” were to begin to practise the law of love, by giving up their greed and selfishness. The “tax collectors” were to stop extorting the people 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 normal duties as men who have the fear of God in their calling, to carry the principles of true religion into all their actions.
This is an important lesson because many people think that being a Christian ends at observing your quiet time every morning and evening, reading one chapter or two in the Bible every day and attending church service every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.
While, these duties are important as means of grace, yet they are not religion. 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 our thoughts and actions and character.
We must not demarcate our lives into two segments 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 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.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31