Why do we do the things we do? If we are like most people, there is a reason that we take particular actions. Sometimes our motives are greater than the actions themselves, but in most cases there is a driving force behind whatever we do. John the apostle knows what it means to be driven by an inner motive. He has been writing to Gaius who is an individual whom he has found faithfully caring for itinerant teachers who have traveled into Gaius' area. These true teachers and prophets of the gospel and their motives were exposed through evidence that John shares with us today in Third John verse seven. He wrote:
Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
Notice “for his name's sake”. When we share the gospel of Jesus Christ there can be no stronger motive than “for his name's sake”. Unfortunately in John's day there were those who shared the gospel for other reasons such as notoriety, fame, money or status. It's not a lot different today. This was part of the reason that John was writing to Gaius. The motive behind what these itinerant prophets were sharing was important in determining whether they were false or not, and those who were sharing “for his name's sake” were the ones for which John was commending Gaius.
John also mentions that these teachers with good motives were “taking nothing of the Gentiles (or heathens).” Some traveling preachers in John's day would take up special offerings or hold special meals for which they would partake. At that time there was a book called the “Dedike”. In it were special guidelines that would help people know whether an evangelist or itinerant teacher was a false teacher or not. Some of the rules within the Dedike were: If a teacher ever asks for money, he is a false teacher. If a teacher holds a feast in which he takes part, he is a false teacher. If a teacher holds a clothing rally and takes from the clothing, he is a false teacher. The basic idea was that a true teacher, evangelist, or prophet would not call for special offerings and then advantage himself because of them. This in no way infers that the servant of God is not worthy of his hire. Paul the apostle made this clear in the book of First Timothy in chapter five and verses seventeen and eighteen:
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine. For the scripture says, You shalt not muzzle the ox that treads out the corn. And, The laborer [is] worthy of his reward.
Those who shared the gospel as a profession were to be taken care of by those with whom they shared it, but these itinerant teachers were not to call upon those they taught to do so.
John commended Gaius for being hospitable to the genuine prophets and teachers who didn't take advantage of those who did not know Jesus Christ. The gospel was then as it is today, free, and as Paul the apostle wrote to the Corinthian church in the book of Second Corinthians in chapter eleven in verse nine:
And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all [things] I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and [so] will I keep [myself].
We would do well to take note of Paul's idea and John's commendation for those who share with us without personal advantage, and who rather have “for his name's sake” as their driving motivation for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.
Next time we will take a further look at what John has to say to Gaius about being helpers to the truth, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
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