“Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. For they are traveling for the Lord, and they accept nothing from people who are not believers. So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth.”- 3 John 5-8 New Living Translation
This is a lesson in selfless living. Disregarding the inconvenience or expense incurred by housing an unexpected guest is what our God expects from his children. It is also a test of our faith. Will God provide for us? We budget things so carefully. Now what will we do when our resources have been depleted by a travelling teacher? The fact of the matter is that God has promised to meet your every need. One of his many names is Jehovah Jireh, “the God Who provides”. So if God provides for us that should free us up to provide for others whenever the Lord leads us to. We will never go without.
It’s almost as if the Lord set up things with the sole purpose of rewarding the traveling teacher’s faith for seeking the hospitality of strangers, as well as the stranger who willingly offered his hospitality. And who’s to say he didn’t. Doesn’t everything happen for a reason? I believe it does.
When we offer what we have to another, we are pleasing the Lord. We must learn to dismiss thoughts that we are being taken advantage of. The devil will whisper that in your ear, but don’t listen to it. Brethren in general need are relying on God to meet their need. At times the need may be desperate. God wants to use us to meet our brother or sister’s need. It’s a cycle of faith with both parties getting rewarded. Now another thing we must remind ourselves of is that a reward isn’t always monetary. The reward may simply be a sense of satisfaction for aiding a brother or sister in need. In all of this we must remain humble. This isn’t all about you, it’s all about God.
Our next writing will touch on Diotrephes and his sin. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller
Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.
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