Generous Gaius

Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who 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, - 3 John 1v5-6

I like the personalities of the Bible. The Third Epistle of John was written to a believer named Gaius. We cannot with certainty identify who this Gaius is. There are several throughout the New Testament. From the first verse it is obvious that this was someone who was John’s close friend and someone whom Paul loved and respected.

Gaius is a great example of the kind of Christian we should be. Though we don’t know much about him, we do know that he was a generous believer who expressed tangible love. Whatever he did for the brethren, and even for strangers, he did faithfully. He was known as one who met the needs of others on a regular basis. He had learned how to put his love into action. His testimony was well known by both groups of people. It must have spoken volumes to the ‘strangers’ because they bore witness of it to John and to the church.

Gaius had sent them forth on their trip in a ‘manner worthy of God.’ Doing that, according to John, was ‘doing well.’

We need to ask ourselves how we are doing when it comes to meeting the needs and doing for others, especially in these tough economic times. When we meet the needs of God’s servants, as Gaius did, we become partners in their service and share in the blessing of serving Him.