My guess is that you know Christians who are an absolute blessing to be around. They carry the joy of Christ wherever they go, sacrificially serving others while spreading the hope and peace of God.
Conversely, you have likely also known people who call themselves Christians but are prideful, unhappy, scheming and always desiring to be first. These types of people bring despair to the whole church.
In his third Epistle, John addresses three men, each of whom is a different example of how some Christians act. As we look at them, I encourage you to examine your walk with Christ and see which you are most like.
First, there is Gaius (verses 1-8). We know this man is loved, because in these few short verses John calls him “beloved” three times. Gaius was a Christian who walked in truth (verse 3). This means that he was faithful in what he believed and faithful in how he lived.
We’re also told that Gaius was generous (verses 5-8). He welcomed and provided for “brethren” and “strangers” who required assistance to help meet their needs when they traveled. Inns were scarce and often dangerous places. However, Gaius was known for charitably inviting others into his home.
Diotrephes (verses 9-11) was the opposite of Gaius. In fact, he was so toxic that John called him out by name and wrote this letter to confront his actions. Diotrephes, who was a leader in the church, was prideful and loved to be first. He sought preeminence above all else. Instead of serving others, he desired to be served.
Diotrephes would not listen to John. Rather, he was known to make up malicious accusations against John. He was also inhospitable to traveling believers and would not accept them into the church. When people in his church did want to help and support the brethren, he would excommunicate them. He would not let anyone stay in the church who resisted his authority.
This type of person destroys a church by being eager for power, trampling the truth, ignoring the Bible and disobeying the Spirit’s leading.
Demetrius (verse 12) gets one mention in one verse, but it’s a good one: “Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself.” What a simple, yet profound witness! Demetrius supported the truth, which gave him a strong Christian testimony and good rapport among men.
Here we have three men: One who was beloved, prosperous, well-known and generous. One who wasn’t well-known (as far as we can tell), but whose faithfulness to the truth has been known 2,000 years later! And one who was focused on himself and actively worked against believers.
As you consider your relationship with Christ, where do you fall on this spectrum?
Third John is summed up in verse 11: “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.”
I encourage you to strive to live a life like Gaius and Demetrius, focused solely on Jesus, clinging to the truth and serving others. And if there’s any hint of Diotrephes in your life, confess it to the Lord and repent and grow in Christ.
