A Portrait of Christian Faithfulness: The Man Who Loved to Be First

Pride and power can be dangerous forces within the church. Dr. John Neufeld explores the story of Diotrephes from 3 John 9-10, a man who, driven by self-importance, rejects the authority of the apostles and manipulates the church for personal gain. In contrast, Gaius serves as an example of humility and faithfulness. This study challenges us to reflect on the destructive nature of pride and the importance of humility in our walk with Christ.A Portrait of Christian Faithfulness: In spite of its brevity, 3 John provides us with a portrait of what faithful Christians in the early church did when it came to living a life of faith. It is a reference point of what a life of faithfulness should look like—even if we don’t work in full-time ministry. It’s amazing what God can do when we allow ourselves to be taught by His Word! A characteristic of a faithful Christian is someone who fully trusts God with their life without wavering, but what else does faithfulness entail? Does living a life of faith stop inside of us, or is faithfulness a quality that others can see from the outside?