In
the little epistle of III John we find two very different
personalities. Gaius was a friend of John's whom John knew would be in
excellent health if he was as healthy in body as he was in his soul.
Quite a compliment if you stop to think about it. How healthy would you
be if your body was as well as your soul--if you were as healthy
physically as you are spiritually. 911. 911. 911.
The other guy was a man named Diatrophes, an arrogant man who "loved to have the preeminence." He assumed that God identified Himself with Diatrophes' plans. He was a man without Christ-like love--a man playing a cymbal solo according to I Corinthians 13.
Anyone trying to be noticed and recognized for his faithfulness and stand for God is a dangerous man to the cause of Christ. A lack of love and concern for others will soon be his most noticeable trait. Selfish ambition always ends up there even-especially--in the spiritual realm. If a man or woman is honestly standing firm for Christ as His servant, he or she won't need to tell anyone--and will be uncomfortable if pointed out as doing so.
Read III John sometime--it will only take a minute or two--and notice the attributes of Diatrophes: proud--the greatest lust of the flesh, filled with self-love, inhospitable, a talker of nonsense, malicious--sitting around with a rock in his pocket looking for someone--anyone--to throw it at, discontent--unless he was in a "fight," demanding that others be just as inhospitable and contentious as he was, divisive--separating himself from all those who weren't following--worshiping--him, and threatening--saying he would kick Gaius and anyone else out of the fellowship who he thought was being too loving.
An experiential knowledge of God--the indwelling and control of the Holy Spirit--makes one poor in spirit, not spiritually proud. The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth by shedding abroad the love of God in our hearts, not the love of self. Don't be a dissonant, cacophonic, cymbal soloist like Diatophes. You'll just give everyone a headache and a desire to get as far away from you as possible. In God's eyes you'll be useless, worthless, and hopeless. Everything you've always wanted to be, right? And even more dangerously, you'll think you're just the opposite.
The other guy was a man named Diatrophes, an arrogant man who "loved to have the preeminence." He assumed that God identified Himself with Diatrophes' plans. He was a man without Christ-like love--a man playing a cymbal solo according to I Corinthians 13.
Anyone trying to be noticed and recognized for his faithfulness and stand for God is a dangerous man to the cause of Christ. A lack of love and concern for others will soon be his most noticeable trait. Selfish ambition always ends up there even-especially--in the spiritual realm. If a man or woman is honestly standing firm for Christ as His servant, he or she won't need to tell anyone--and will be uncomfortable if pointed out as doing so.
Read III John sometime--it will only take a minute or two--and notice the attributes of Diatrophes: proud--the greatest lust of the flesh, filled with self-love, inhospitable, a talker of nonsense, malicious--sitting around with a rock in his pocket looking for someone--anyone--to throw it at, discontent--unless he was in a "fight," demanding that others be just as inhospitable and contentious as he was, divisive--separating himself from all those who weren't following--worshiping--him, and threatening--saying he would kick Gaius and anyone else out of the fellowship who he thought was being too loving.
An experiential knowledge of God--the indwelling and control of the Holy Spirit--makes one poor in spirit, not spiritually proud. The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth by shedding abroad the love of God in our hearts, not the love of self. Don't be a dissonant, cacophonic, cymbal soloist like Diatophes. You'll just give everyone a headache and a desire to get as far away from you as possible. In God's eyes you'll be useless, worthless, and hopeless. Everything you've always wanted to be, right? And even more dangerously, you'll think you're just the opposite.
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