LOVES TO BE FIRST

  Over the years, I have taught grades 6, 4, and 2.  I have worked with children in churches also and also had three sons of my on.  The age ole, "Me, I want to be first" is the rant of a child...of most ages. It seems to become a tad less obvious as  the child matures, however in the adult, the same mindset of "meism" can reek havoc in marriages, families, professions, or in the Body of Christ.  

The old traveling apostle, John is writing 1,2,and 3rd John from Ephesus.  The three books were written about 90 AD.  He is the eldest apostle, and will eventually be exiled to the isle of Patmos, cetainly not a scenic vacay location!  He will be exiled for His teachings and his faithfulness to speak truth about Christ.  
In 3 John, he mentions Diotrephes, but note the descriptor of Diotrephes..."who loves to be first".  Diotrephes has spread gossip to create disunity in the body of Christ.  John is embolden and calls his name in print, and then specifies the sin that he has committed.  Checking out the term, gossip in Greek, is to accuse one falsely with idle words.  I love the word picture that one commentator spoke:  the root of the word gossip is used of the action of water in boiling up and throwing off bubbles.  Ahem!  As you know bubbles, steam, is GAS.  Need, I say more?  Diotrephes is guilty of speaking gassy words with out truth.  In connecting the dots, his/our gassy words come from the spirit of pride, the me who wants to be first to be seen, to be heard, to be chosen. John has written a strong counsel about Diotrephes and his spirit, "...do not imitate what is evil but what is good."

Our words, "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:6  REMINDER TO ME! Forever learning.  In process.  #IHAVETHREESONS.