The Dash of Diotrophes

Dean and I are nearing the end of Beth Moore’s book, THE BELOVED DISCIPLE, and at present we are reading about John’s letter to his friend, Gaius. This name, whether it belongs to the same man or not, is also mentioned in some of Paul’s letters. Gaius very likely lived in the area of Ephesus and was a believer that such men as these apostles prized as a very dear friend.

On the other hand as we read John’s short letter to Gaius entitled 3^rd John, we see mentioned a man, very likely a believer and leader in the local church, who exhibited the very opposite of Gaius’ spirit of love. The name of Diotrophes has been inscribed in the Holy Scriptures for 2000 years as a prideful man, one who always pushed himself to the forefront. I’m guessing he is the first fellow to make it into print as one who believed the saying, “He who doth not toot his own horn, doth not get tooted.” Or something of that sort.

When we read about Diotrophes, I remembered about the “dash” I alluded to some time ago last year when our church’s Small Groups were studying the book “30 Days to Live.” The premise of that study was to take a look at your life and see what changes might be made if you knew that you had only 30 days left to live on this earth. That summary statement led us to think about the dash between the dates we see on gravestones in a cemetery. How might we be graded on the way we lived that “dash” between our birth date and our death date?

One would hope Diotrophes “wised up” and became a more mature believer before he completed his “dash.” Despite the fact that his name is in black and white for all to see, he had a chance to change his attitude from pride of place and malicious speech to love’s sacrifice.

I suppose this post would have made a good New Year’s Resolution posting, but the first month of 2014 is not yet finisheJ.  John’s description of Diotrophes—he loves to have preeminence among the church [members] plus he spoke maliciously of the apostles—does not picture a Godly “dash" nor a pleasant person. Then I compare Paul’s description of his “dash”--I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith.”

I choose the latter