3 John 1:2 (KJV)
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
Albert Barnes writes, “It is not very common that a man is more prospered in his spiritual interests than he is in his other interests, or that we can, in our wishes for the welfare of our friends, make the prosperity of the soul, and the practice and enjoyment of religion, the standard of our wishes in regard to other things.”
Though there are several Gaiuses in the New Testament, it does not seem likely this is any of them. I always take it that whenever God chooses not to give us details, it’s so we apply the truth more broadly than we might otherwise.
We know specifically that he is Gaius.
God treats us as individuals. He knows what perhaps no one else does about us.
We know that he is loved of John.
This seems to have been true of him even before the report of the brethren concerning him.
We know the report concerning him was encouraging.
Preachers love people who are not, maybe, the most spiritual they could be. But we who love God love to hear that people we love also love God.
We live in a time so unlike theirs I am not sure we can comprehend the sentiment expressed. Prosperity and health are almost givens in our day. Even those of us who struggle most would be prosperous in comparison to the average citizens of that time and place. But here God’s Word turns things upside down from our world. In the case of Gaius, he prospered so much spiritually that John wished he might do as well in every other circumstance of life. His priority was the spiritual. Perhaps Gaius had no material benefits. Perhaps he had poor health. Perhaps he was alone, or unpopular, or a widower and childless. It would have been nice to see those circumstances reversed, but no matter—he walked in truth, and his soul had prospered.
Take the whole world. Just give me Jesus.
#WalkingInTruth #SpiritualProsperity #BiblicalWisdom #SoulCare #FaithFirst
The Prosperous Soul: Take the Whole World, Just Give Me Jesus
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