Don’t Just Do It, Do It Nicely

3 John 1:6
They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God.

New Living Translation
They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God.

Amplified Bible
and they have testified before the church of your love and friendship. You will do well to [assist them and] send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.

Apostle John writes this letter to Gaius a supposedly church leader. Gaius means to rejoice in the Latin language. Gaius is also mentioned in Acts 19:29 as a companion of Apostle Paul. Gaius is mentioned in several other places. The various mentions of Gaius could be the same person or different people.

John tells Gaius that believers who visited him had brought good reports to the whole church. These are believers who were going to churches and to people outside churches to preach God’s word. When these believers visited pagans or non-believers, they were not treated well, 3 John 1:7. When they went to churches they were treated well but not very well. But when they visited the church where Gaius was a leader, Gaius gave them the best treatment that partly triggered the writing of this letter.

John tells Gaius to keep up the good work in his hospitality. We quickly learn that you can’t stand out if all you are doing is like everybody else. We must strive to be exceptional from the crowd. If everyone is doing good, do better, when they do better, go for best. Do not hang out with the crowd, excel beyond the crowd. Every church was treating these itinerant preachers well, but Gaius treated them so well, that of all the stories they told the church, they mentioned Gaius in person. We should be like Gaius who didn’t stop at average, he went for excellence. Don’t just do it, do it nicely!

Apostle John tells Gaius that there is a manner of sending off visitors. Do not just send them off, send them off in a manner. In a manner, suggests style. In a manner suggests something unforgettable. In a manner suggests that it is not the usual way of doing things. In a manner means it’s done nicely. Don’t just do it, do it nicely!

Doing it in a manner may be in a manner that meets worldly standards. The manner of the world may be pomp and color and vainglory. But John tells Gaius that the manner should be worthy of God. A manner that honors God. A manner that pleases God. A manner that can be associated with God without demeaning God. A manner that is consistent with scripture. A manner that does not glorify man, but brings glory to God. A manner that indeed is nice to the Christian tastes. Don’t just do it, do it nicely!

Hebrews 13:2 some in receiving visitors have unknowingly entertained angels. Gaius is told to give visitors a treat he would give God. The manner in which these church visitors are treated must be worthy of God. God may visit your church or home in the guise of familiar or unfamiliar visitors. Is your hospitality worthy of God? Don’t just do it, do it nicely!

The visitors who should get Gaius’ best attention are not even the high placed Apostles, but some ordinary itinerant preachers that everybody knows and may hardly care about their welfare. Their names are not even mentioned. Yet they who are that ordinary, deserve a God-treat. Giving preferential treatment to the high and mighty is not biblical. Even ordinary fellows need a God-treat. Whatever you do to them, do it nicely as you are doing it for God. Don’t just do it, do it nicely!

It is against scriptures and God’s will for us just to do things for the record. Doing things in an ordinary way Is abuse of our God. We need to do things not just well but very well. Do it for God. Whatever I do, I do it for God, therefore I Just don’t do it, I do it nicely. Don’t just do it, do it nicely!

Dear God, help us to go beyond doing things and now move to do them really nicely. Teach us hospitality and excellence at work, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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