When you think of a person
who has preeminence who do you think of? I think of a President or king, or more precisely, the Pope of the Catholic Church. These are people who are distinct. People who are used to being first. These are people who live lavishly, surrounded by riches and abundant wealth. These are people who are used to telling people what to do. These are people who are used to living life according to their own truth. While reading the 3rd letter of John, an Elder of the Christian Church, I noticed that preeminence is cancerous. John wrote this letter to his friend, Gauis, and warned him about a pompous man who liked to be first - a man named Diotrephes. John said to Gaius, “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. 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.” III John 1:9-11 Please excuse me for saying it, but Diotrephes sounds like a real moron! I mean, here is a “church man” who does just the opposite of what Jesus commanded, "Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew 20:14-16 John knew Diotrephes was not a man of God, so he warned his friend not to imitate him. I’d love to hear the story on how Diotrephes gained so much control. How can such evil grow inside a church without being noticed? Diotrephes sounds more like a king babbler who was spreading cancer through his malignant words. And on top of this behavior, he prevented other church members from being hospitable. He reminds me of cancerous cells that will continue to grow, if left uncontrolled. Is this how we became a deformed version of the true church? I thank God for elders like John who could see between the lines and decipher the truth from the lie. He was able to discern, and he was willing to call out Diotrephes for being evil. But he did not stop there. He encouraged Gaius to keep on doing what was good. He told him to keep operating in both truth and in love. He said, “You have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles.” III John 1:6-7 Then John pointed Gaius to a man of good report, He said, “Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.” III John 1:12 My guess is that Demetrius did not want to be first. He probably cared less. He was more focused on being generous and sharing the truth of Jesus in His love. Demetrius was probably highly frustrated with Diotrephes for his prideful attitude. Demetrius was probably much like John, who was able to discern. I love how John handled the situation. After quickly pointing out the pompous behavior of Diotrephes, he shifted his attention to help Gaius focus on what was good and what was true. It’s as if he said, “Pay attention to Demetrius - he is a man who truly reflects God’s Light.” This third letter of John reminds me of what Paul said in Philippians Chapter 4. Paul said, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:6-9 This is a lesson that God has been working on in me. To stop getting so angry at that which is evil, and instead focus my attention to that which is good. It is true - We are told to be cautious and to be on guard, and we are told that Satan is the ruler of this world; we know that the church is full of wolves in sheep clothes - but we are not told to focus on it. As my favorite says, "Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3 God is still working on me. I often forget that bitterness causes cancerous cells. I have to let go, and give it to God. Beloved, When we keep our eyes focused on Christ, and not on the people who like to be first, we are able to be a true reflection of God. Beloved, Do not look to the right or the left, this is how we become cancerous - darkened, deformed and bitterly bent.
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