A TALE OF TWO MEN

BIBLE QUIZ!!!!  Are you ready? Who are Diotrephes and Demetrius and where in the New Testament do you read about them?  

 

Sound of Jeopardy theme. . . . . . . . . . . Time’s up!!

They are two men of whom the Apostle John refers in 3rd John, verses 9-14.

Of Diotrephes the Apostle says:

•  He loves to have the preeminence in the church
• He refused hospitality to John and those he sent

• (Instead) he “pratted” against them with malicious words (pratted: to talk foolishly)

• He wasn’t content just to refuse to offer hospitality himself, he also forbid others from offering hospitality, even putting them out of the church for wishing to do so.

 

John said that when he came to visit, he would call Diotrephes on his deeds.  And then he had some harsh words to say:

“Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.  He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.”

Pretty strong words coming right after John's description of Diotrephes!  

John sees the fruit of this man’s life – both words and deeds – and says, don’t imitate this guy.  His deeds demonstrate that he does not know God.

Have you ever met anyone like Diotrephes at your church?

• Maybe he’s bossy, or proud, always drawing attention to himself?   
• Maybe she avoids hospitality – not because she’s shy, or has a small house – but so as not to let anyone get close enough to see the REAL, HYPOCRITICAL her.

What kind of testimony does that person have in the church, do you think?  

I would think not many would want to be friends with someone like that, or serve together in ministry, or feel free and safe to express a true opinion.

I’m thinking people would be afraid to cross her for fear of getting snubbed, thrown off a committee, or facing her disapproval and possible censure, or of having their head bitten off!

Okay, now the hard question, “Have you ever BEEN that kind of person?”  

John’s opinion of Diotrephes is that his deeds indicate the condition of his heart – he doesn’t know God.  

I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty confident I belong to Jesus, and so I do know God – and yet. . . . . sometimes I am capable of actions like that of Diotrephes.

• Far too many times pride wells up in me.  I may not tell anyone about it because it shames me, and I might just avoid hospitality so no one knows that about me.
• Sad to say, I’m also capable of malicious words – maybe not always vocalized – but often thought.  
• Sometimes when I don’t agree with something someone did or said, I’m sure they can read the disapproval on my face.

All of these Diotrephes’ like qualities shame me.

How grateful I am for grace, because when I confess my sins, I know I have received the forgiveness Jesus died to purchase for me.  

I don’t think Diotrephes knew about grace. I take it, given John’s words about him, that he cherished his sin, he did not ask forgiveness, he did not think that his words and behavior were wrong.  He didn’t KNOW the grace of God, and so he was incapable of giving it.  “Do not imitate what is evil, but imitate what is good,” John says.

Then there was Demetrius.  John has just one sentence to say about him:

“Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself.”

And then he says:

“And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.”

Contrast Diotrephes with Demetrius. John’s testimony about the former is that he wants to be first, he is inhospitable to John and other believers, he lords it over those who want to practice hospitality, he speaks malicious words against John.

Demetrius, on the other hand, has a good testimony, not only from John and the other apostles, but from ALL.  

Demetrius is a kind of “what you see is what you get” person.  No falsehood, no wanting to be the center of attention.  The things that describe Diotrephes are not true of Demetrius. His is undoubtedly the person John is thinking of when he says, “Do not imitate what is evil, IMITATE WHAT IS GOOD.”

Here's the rub, both of these men were in the church. 

Which do you think was a blessing to his pastor and church family?  Which had the better Christian testimony before his co-workers and neighbors?  Which made the greater impact for the kingdom of Jesus?  My money is on Demetrius.

Let's make it personal.  Which are you more like: Diotrephes or Demetrius?

What is your testimony among your: brethren, family, neighbors, co-workers, ministry partners?

Would you be one of whom God would say, “Imitate what is good”, or “Do not imitate what is evil!”

John said that when he saw Diotrephes he would, “call to mind his deeds”.  John had every intention of confronting Diotrephes face to face.  

If someone in authority were to call you out for your Diotrephes’ like deeds, how would you react?  

Would you proudly defend yourself, turning your anger on the one who called you out, or would you, in humility, confess and repent?  I asking myself the same questions.

I don’t want to be a Diotrephes, do you?  But when I occasionally commit a Diotrephes like deed, I know what to do - I practice those other words John spoke in 1 John 1:9:

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgives us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."