Thursday, July 30, 2015

How NOT to show Hospitality...

3 John 1:9-10 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.
Having commended Gaius for showing hospitality to God's servants as they travelled, John points out a negative example - Diotrephes.  First and foremost, he always put himself first - this attitude is diametrically opposed to hospitality.  But other activities of Diotrephes  took that even further. Gossip behind one's back cannot make one a sincere giver of hospitality.  Ignoring others and their requests does not make one open to meet others' needs - a staple of good hospitality.  He even went to the extreme of using his power and influence to oppose hospitality.  Though Diotrephes is an extreme example of this, we must all examine ourselves for similar symptoms.   Do I like to be first? Do I engage in gossip (aka "prayer concerns....")?  Do I just ignore others who need hospitality?  Do I have a heart and mind attitude that says: "We don't need anyone else!" ? It really is a package deal.  If we are not "given to hospitality", what other spiritual issues are going on in our lives???

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