Beloved,
you are acting faithfully in
whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are
strangers; and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way
in a manner worthy of God.” 3
John v.5-6
We continue our study of the book of III John and Ways to Build a Lasting Friendship.
I. Minister to Each Other
Gaius was not the kind of person that was satisfied with
simply sitting and soaking in Church on Sunday.
He was busy serving God and ministering to others. The kind of ministry that Gaius had was
hospitality. Some people think
hospitality is the gift of making people feel at home when you wish they
were. But actually it is the ability to make
others, especially strangers, feel warmly welcomed, accepted and comfortable. Romans 12:13, “Share with God's people who are in need.
Practice hospitality.” (NIV)
Whenever you are serving and ministering in the area of your
spiritual giftedness there will be three characteristics seen.
- First, it will be done faithfully. This speaks of a person’s competence and
character.
- Second, it will be done in
love. This speaks of
the kind of passion you should have.
If you are having a hard time trying to get motivated or stay
motivated in ministry it is because you’re not serving in the area of your
passion.
- Third, it will be done in excellence. Gaius served others as Jesus would have
served them. Anything worth doing
for God is worth doing well! God
deserves our best, not our second best!
Hebrews 6:10 says, For God is
not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown
toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the
saints.
Being a part of a loving and relational church provides
daily illustration of these qualities.
Each day we see friends stepping out of their own life demands and
problems to minister to another. A meal
taken to one who has had surgery or suffered a loss is a ministry of love. Heaven’s Handymen or Volunteer Christian
Builders give of their time to help cut some limbs away from a widow’s house or
repair something broken. Others minister
through prayer and counsel when someone just needs to talk.
The need of a friend is met by being a friend. Those who receive ministry are commonly seen
ministering in return when life strikes a blow on another. A wonderful part of being in the body of
Christ is the blessing we receive in lifting the spirit or lessening the burden
for another.
Paul was deeply touched by the friendship and ministry of
Gaius and commended his actions to the church as an example of true
friendship. So, if we are interested in
building a lasting friendship, we must have an attitude of humility and
compassion that results in faithful service to one another.
Scripture to Claim:
Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill
the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
