Gaius
Greetings to brother Gaius vv 1-4
Accept strangers and brethren vv 5-6
Invest in God's work vv 7-8
Uunjust words of Diothrephes vv 9-10
Special thanks to Demetrius vv 11-14
Key Verses: 4, 6, 10, 11
When you
invest in someone’s life, and then hear that they are still doing well, it can
bring great joy. I have had that experience many times over the course of my
life. I have also had some great sorrows, as some have squandered my investment
in them. We get calls, emails and Facebook posts with updates from hundreds of
people, some good and some not so good.
John
wrote to Gaius to encourage him and to return a good report to him. Gaius has
been faithful and there is fruit to his ministry. Some of those whom he has
positively impacted have reported to John how they are doing in the faith. John
is passing along the report to encourage John to continue being faithful in his
work with strangers.
These
stranger are missionaries sent without support to spread the Gospel. Their only
means of support is from people like Gaius. He showed hospitality. He probably
let them live with him, provided them with food and other sustenance. It sounds
like it also involved providing for their journey to their next stop.
Today we
generally provide this kind of support through missions giving. We choose to
support a missionary and we give regularly to support their work. We can give
to help reach people where we will never set foot. Others are going, so we
support their efforts.
The man
named Diotrephes was doing just the opposite of Gaius. He was always looking
out for his own reputation. He could stand it when others were doing well. He
would put them and their work down. He was active in obstructing the good that
others were doing.
I read a
news blurb a couple weeks ago about the city stopping a young girl from selling
lemonade to raise money for a person who was sick. I keep wondering if there
isn’t something better to do with their time than shutting down lemonade stands.
Aren’t there much greater violations of city codes going on with the crack
houses and Meth labs? Aren’t they running a business without a license!
Don’t get
in the way of someone trying to do good. In fact, we ought to come along side
them, and encourage them. Join with those doing good. Don’t be afraid to use
your voice to reinforce a good someone else is doing.