Church People, Be Good and Kind to Others!

1 This letter is from John, the Elder. I am writing to Gaius, my dear friend, whom I love in the truth. 2 Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. 3 Some of the traveling teachers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth. 4 I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. 5 Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. 7 For they are traveling for the Lord, and they accept nothing from people who are not believers. 8 So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth. 9 I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us. 10 When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church. 11 Dear friend, do not let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God. 12 Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, as does the truth itself. We ourselves can say the same for him, and you know we speak the truth. 3 John 1:1-12 (NLT)

Third John was a personal letter written by the Apostle John to applaud good Christian behavior within the church and point out evil behavior we should all avoid.  Such good behavior included hospitality, friendship, truth, and generosity, while evil behavior included egocentricity, pride, and self-ambition. The Apostle John wrote his letter to encourage everyone to practice hospitality, continue to walk in the truth, and do what is right (see also Romans 12:9-21). How we treat others reflects our true beliefs in God’s goodness (1 John 3:10-14; see also John 13:34-35). Although we cannot see God, everyone can see God at work in the lives of His people (Matthew 5:14-16; John 13:34-35) as we encourage “one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24, NIV).

This short New Testament Epistle centers around three people: Gaius, Diotrephes, and Demetrius. Gaius is called the “beloved” or “friend” by the Apostle John. Gaius faithfully followed Jesus Christ’s example of loving others and walking in truth (3 John 1:1-8; see also John 13:34-35; Galatians 5:6; 2 John 4). Because of Gaius’ goodness, the Apostle John blessed Gaius’ with physical health and spiritual health. On the other hand, Diotrephes was selfish, boastful, and argumentative person. Diotrephes was an example of how not to live as a Christian (3 John 1:9–11) as he did not reflect God's values of unity, love, and fellowship (3 John 1:9-11). Demetrius was the third person mentioned and he also followed God’s truth as Gaius (3 John 1:3, 4, 11-12). The Apostle John applauded Gaius and Demetrius as faithful and selfless servants of God with an excellent moral character.

God is good, and He acts with all goodness throughout the Holy Bible. To seek God is to seek the good (Amos 5:4, 6, 14). Throughout the Holy Scriptures, God is embodied in acts of love, mercy, kindness, justice, and fairness. The Holy Scriptures encourages everyone to “do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed. Hate evil and love what is good” (Amos 5:14-15, NLT). We are not to “neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Hebrews 13:16, NASB). Essentially, the good person is the one who lives in wholehearted devotion and love to God and lives in accordance with God’s righteous fruits towards others through the help of God’s Holy Spirit living within (see Isaiah 1:17; Micah 6:8; 1 Corinthians 10:24; Galatians 5:22-23; 3 John 1:11). To those who do good to others, God brings good upon them and they shall have life (Jeremiah 32:39-42; John 5:29).

References

Life Application Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005.

Zondervan NIV Study Bible. New York: Zondervan, 2008.

Elwell, Walter A. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Second Edition. Grand Rapids, MI:  Baker Book House Company, 2001.

Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary – New Testament. Victor Books, 2001.