Faithful to Give

How giving are you? You can give more than just money. One major thing my parents taught me is give of my time. I know there were a couple times when I was younger where I was consumed with myself and did not want to really talk to people. They would ask me “were you giving”. I knew the answer was no. So giving of yourself is more than just money. I was listening to a podcast earlier today, and the guy said that America is more acceptably selfish, and partly because of our prosperity we can afford to be. Because of that, our sin nature is selfish, and but society has made it more rampant. So many Christians are not giving they way they should be. Is that you?

3 John is written to a specific man named Gaius. It is also written in the context of helping missionaries. Gaius was a man who was faithful as it says in v. 5. He was faithfully serving and hospitable to the missionaries. He sets a wonderful example to us. How we should be with not just special speakers, but rather with all of our Christian brothers and sisters. One way to love is by being hospitable or very giving. It is giving of yourself. Being kind to a stranger. Inviting someone who you do not like to sit with you, and not just be with your best friends. You can also give of money to missionaries or special speakers. You boys who asked Bro. Nickells different questions encouraged him, Mr. Siebenhaar and myself. In the ways that you can give you need to give. CIT: You must be faithful in giving of yourself for the cause of Christ.

Why do you need to faithfully give?

Loving

John commends Gaius for his hospitableness Gaius was very loving to the brethren, and even to strangers with missionaries.

In v. 6 we see it is out of love. And love should not be, oh Pastor Ryan is making me talk to this person or he encourage me to give to this person but it should be “I have chance to be a blessing to this person, or I can share God’s love with this person

John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”

1 John 3:16 “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

1 John 4:10-11 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”

Love is giving, it is sacrificial. You cannot be loving and consumed with yourself. You cannot be loving and not willing to sacrifice something. Think of the good samaritan. In context the lawyer was asking what could he do to inherit eternal life Jesus said Love God, and Love your neighbor. The man asked well who is my neighbor, and Jesus tells the story of the good samaritan who gave money, and time. People who love sports more than God, will give up church for sports. People who love certain things will give money.

Gaius also walked in truth, which will cause you to walk in love because you are obeying the commandments of God.

Fellowhelpers

At the end of v. 6, John says that if Gaius receives the missionaries, sends them in a good manner, he will do well, Why is that?

These missionaries for the cause of Christ were not taking anything from the Gentiles,

Gaius taking care of these missionairies helped so much with them

Last week it was if the church in 2 John received a false teacher they partake in their evil deeds, this week if one receives a godly person, they partake in their good deeds.

During World War 2 when the men were fighting, the women started working in the factories and were helping make ammo and other things that the soldiers needed. Other people were trying to sell war bonds to help fund the war. It took the entire country to win the war. Also think of Patreon, where certain content creators and influencers are allowed to give more to their content. They say this is possible by listeners like you.

When we are giving to guest speakers and missionaries., we partake in their good deeds. They need our prayers, some travel and a fair amount of their income is love offerings.

How much are you giving to missionaries?

You need to be faithful in giving.