3 John 6 KJV
[6] “Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:”
The name Gaius means “of the earth”. He was no doubt an ordinary man, with a heart to serve the Lord. His testimony can be clearly seen in our verse for today. The Bible says that the brethren had spoken highly of his charity before the church. He was known to be a down-to-earth kind of man. I think this is a testimony that every believer should have.
The family of God has no place for high minded, snooty, proud believers who think they are a cut above others. Gaius was a man who sought no glory and desired no praise. His charity was genuine, and he needed no recognition. However, he received the highest recognition a man could ever achieve in this life. His testimony is recorded in God’s Word for all generations to read and to know. This is how God intended it to be. He praises those who seek no glory for themselves. He lifts up people who are down-to-earth and noble to his cause.
It is understandable how the world can be so lifted up in pride, and develop “status” in society. What is disturbing is how easily it can filter into our churches. It is foolish to think that we are better than anyone in the church, or that we deserve a position more than someone else does. We don’t even deserve to be saved, let alone being allowed to serve. Many seek titles and trophies for their service. They look down on other people, thinking that they themselves are better than them. Believers should never seek alliances with cliques that take hold in their local assembly, nor should they begin one by selectively picking other members whom they believe share their opinions and mindsets. This kind of attitude grieves the Spirit in the services. We will do well to remember that underneath the fancy clothes, titles, and compliments that we receive, that we are nothing more than dust. May no accolades, or accomplishments on this earth, ever cause us to rise above it. We must stay in the dust where we belong. We must be down-to-earth.