Luke 3:14 NKJV
Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”
We live in an unfortunate reality where context is often ignored. This verse is often quoted as, “Be content with your wages,” but the context is much deeper than simply, “Be happy with your paycheck.” John the Baptist is preaching repentance, and he is asked several times, “What shall we do?”
John instructs the general audience to be generous and give away an extra coat, the tax collectors not to collect more than they are authorized to collect, and the soldiers not to use their position to exploit people. They should be content with their wages.
John is revealing the practical behavior of someone with a repentant heart. As their heart changes, their behavior changes. Being content with your wages does not mean never pursuing another opportunity for more. John is saying, don’t use your position or influence to enrich yourself at another’s expense. When we are content with what we have, the temptation to cheat someone else fades.
That is the big idea: Don’t cheat people. Help people. Don’t covet what others have; be content with what you already have. And when the Lord sees fit to pour out a blessing no man can number, receive it with humility, gladness, and gratitude, knowing that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. When we are content, we are protected from the temptation to steal from or cheat others.