“...be fellow workers for the truth.” (3 John 8b ESV)
To answer this question, let's look to examples. As short as John's 3rd letter is, we see clear snapshots on what it means to be a fellow worker of the truth and one who reflects the contrary.
We'll first look at the latter. Adding “fellow” implies that being a worker of the truth is something done together. We sure see a person of the contrary in Diotrephes who attempted to do God's work alone. “...Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.” (3 John 9b ESV) Diotrephes was a lone ranger. It was either his way or no way. He had no interest in the thoughts, counsel, wisdom and/or authority of other followers of Jesus.
John, on the other hand, acknowledged his friend Gaius as one who represented the example of being a fellow worker for the truth. “Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church.” (3 John 5-6b ESV) Without knowing all the details, we know from this single verse that Gaius gave of himself for other brothers in Christ, brothers who were essentially strangers to him. This was made crystal clear in their testimony of his service.”
What about you? Are you more Diotrephes, more Gaius, or somewhere in the middle? How may the Spirit and the Word be convicting you to be a fellow worker for the truth?
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