And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.” (12-14)
As John the Baptist preached in the wilderness, many people were drawn to him and his message. Some likely came because he was a bit of an oddity or just to see what all of the fuss was about. Yet, others came from various walks of life, somehow compelled by something they did not understand to go far into the wilderness to hear his message. It was no light stroll to get where he was, so people went because they thought they would hear or see something that could not be experienced anywhere else. When they encountered John, he had something to say to everyone. To the tax collectors, he said, “Do your job, and don’t take more than you are supposed to.” Tax collectors were Jewish citizens who were Roman lackeys. To many, they seemed like traitors who served the foreign occupying force. People who took the tax collector role did not typically care about what their neighbors thought but saw it as an opportunity to get wealthy. They used the power of their office to collect more than people owed and line their own purses. They were not men of honor. To the soldiers, he said, “Be content with your pay and do your job fairly; don’t use your power to take advantage of others.” These were not Jews but Roman gentiles whom everyone feared. Yet, they found themselves listening to a Jewish prophet and being pierced to the heart by his message.
Those in positions of authority should still heed these words today. I live in a place where policemen and government officials often use their authority to “collect more” than they should or to intimidate the guilty and innocent alike. John the Baptist would say the same thing to them today. God gives people positions of authority so they can serve Him and honor Him as they minister in that position. People in Africa often assume that if you are in a position of power, God gave you that position, so you can now personally “benefit” from it. This thinking only leads to corruption and endless cycles of poverty. Yes, your position is a gift from God, but it is not given to you “for you”; it was given to you “for others.” This mentality is the kind of Kingdom thinking that John was preaching to all in authority. If you are in power somewhere, be assured that God did not give that position to you so you can benefit from it. Instead, be content with your wages and look for ways to serve others.
