Love in a manner worthy of God

3 John 6 and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. Apparently another group of the brethren from John’s community were either headed his way or delivering this letter to him. John encouraged Gaius in his love, hospitality, and support for the traveling brethren. He knew Gaius was ready to do whatever he could to receive them and help them on their way. So John encouraged him in his love for the saints. The encouragement I draw from this verse is the measure of love John recommended as his guide for loving, namely, in a manner worthy of God. John’s encouragement is very similar to Paul’s encouragement to the church in Rome regarding Phoebe. He wrote to them in Romans 16:2. “That you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well.” The worthiness of our love is to be such that it makes much of the Lord and His love for us. Paul admonished the Thessalonians, Colossians, and Philippians to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord or the gospel. So the apostles all were concerned that God get the glory from the way, the manner, in which we love. I take that to mean generous. God is rich in mercy and love. Expressing generosity testifies to His character and the glory of God. I think of Paul’s encouragement to the Philippians in this regard when he wrote in Philippians 4:19, “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” That’s basically what John said to Gaius. Jesus highlighted this principle when He said, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required” (Luke 12:48). So I encourage you today. God has generously supplied your needs by loving you well. You will do well to generously supply the needs of those God sends to you. Be generous in your hospitality, because of how God has loved you, and therefore, love in a manner worthy of God.