A Negative Example - Diotrephes

I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us. When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us.

3 John 1:9-10

When General George C. Marshall took command of the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, he immediately began leading by example. Although the post’s physical condition had deteriorated badly, Marshall didn’t issue any orders for improvements. Instead, he took out his own lawn equipment, paintbrushes, and other tools and went to work on his own quarters.

Soon other officers and enlisted men—beginning with those who lived closest to Marshall—did the same thing, and in the span of just a few weeks, Fort Benning’s appearance had brightened up considerably.

When John wrote his third epistle to a church leader named Gaius, he issued a strong warning about a man named Diotrephes, who was a very poor leadership model.

Apparently Diotrephes was a gifted man, but he seemed most interested in moving himself up the church’s pecking order. Jesus taught, “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26). The proud, arrogant, self-important Diotrephes asserted his own misguided brand of leadership over the church.

John didn’t beat around the bush. He simply told Gaius, “Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good” (3 John 1:11).

The Bible tells scores of inspiring stories about men of genuine faith. It also recounts examples of men we should go far out of our way to avoid emulating. Diotrephes certainly fits the latter category. His “me first” mentality put him last in God’s scheme of things.

Jesus taught that any man who wants to be great in God’s Kingdom must see himself as less important than others. Such a man must find ways to serve others in love. What kind of example are you? Whom are you serving?