Good Gaius 3 John 1-8

1 John 4:20–21

[20] If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. [21] And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (ESV)

-We walk in the truth when we love God’s servants

I. Gaius is Loved by John vv. 1-2

In our passage tonight, we pick up with a new epistle, written by the Apostle John

Again, he identifies himself as “the elder” a leader in a sister church

He is writing to an unknown brother named Gaius. There is little that we know about Gaius, but what we see from him is powerful:

Gaius is loved by John. In last week’s passage, we saw John’s love for a church; here we see it for an individual brother

John does not just love him, but loves him in truth. There is an intensification and a certainty to this love; there is no pretense or falsehood here

John demonstrates this in his prayer for Gaius:

A prayer for good fortune- that all may go well with you

A prayer for sound body- that you may be in good health

A prayer for soul health- that it goes well with your soul

John’s testimony of love here is powerful, this letter is written to Gaius, but it is for our instruction

We must consider what is so lovable about Gaius

We can also see what John intends to encourage in Gaius

Whatever it is, that’s what we ought to do!

“Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.”—William Arthur Ward

II. Gaius Walks in the Truth vv. 3-4

Next, we see John has a great joy in Gaius; his behavior is reason for rejoicing

John has received a good testimony about Gaius

Brothers from the church and based on their experience with Gaius they can give John a commendation for him

Gaius is walking in truth

I think we need to wrestle with this one more time. God’s people are not just instructed to know the truth, but to walk in the truth

In fact, John tells us that this is His great joy, that his children walk in the truth

We cannot control every aspect of a person’s spiritual life and they must make their own decisions, but if someone I have influenced, encouraged, and trained as a disciple of Jesus continues to walk with Him in faithfulness, I’ve got reason for rejoicing

I need to be looking (and training) beyond simple knowledge of the truth; we must consider how they walk in the truth

There may be many other things going on in their life that feel more noteworthy, but are of far lower importance. We need to rejoice at the right things!

Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

-CS Lewis

III. Gaius Loves Other Brothers vv. 5-8

What is it that Gaius has done that spurs this response?

He welcomed in brothers in Christ that he did not know who were serving Christ as missionaries and servants of the church

He demonstrated hospitality and provision for those who could not provide for themselves; they give a good report of him to John

John commends this and encourages it: He should send them in a manner “worthy of God”. What does this mean?

As we would treat Jesus (Matthew 25:34-40)

Matthew 25:34–40 ESV

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

In keeping with the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:1-6)

Ephesians 4:1–6 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

2. Why should He do this?

Because they have gone out for the sake of the name: Inasmuch as they have gone out in the name of Jesus, the people of Jesus should honor them with care

Because they ought not depend on the Gentiles; this would be a shame on the church and the Lord and a testimony against the ministry. We must give, not take away from the world

Because he can be a fellow worker with them. There is great reward for this!

1 Samuel 30:21–25 ESV

Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left at the brook Besor. And they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near to the people he greeted them. Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart.” But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us. Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.” And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day.

William Carey was a shoemaker in England in the mid 1700’s. Even though he was not a missionary, his heart broke for missions and the dying people of the world. He kept a map of the world on the wall in front of his work bench that as he made and repaired shoes, he would pray and weep over the lost souls of the world.

In a meeting with the missionary society of London, the leaders asked, “Who will go down to take the Gospel?” Carey spoke up and said, “I will go…but you must hold the rope for me.”