John, one of Jesus’ disciples, was concerned about Gaius.

We do not know much about Gaius, except that John dearly loved him.

In 3 John 1:2, John prays that his dear friend may prosper in all things and be physically healthy, even as his soul prospers. Such a prayer not only asks for God’s rich blessings, but also recognizes that Gaius has some responsibility for his own wellbeing.

This scripture implies that we could easily neglect ourselves by separating our spiritual health from that of our body’s health and our need to function in life.

As responsible Christians, we should neither neglect nor indulge ourselves, but care for our physical needs and discipline our bodies so we are at our best for God’s service.

This verse reminds us that we have a responsibility not only for ourselves but also for those we chose to love.

The greatest gift we have ever been given is free will. God has allowed us to chose who we love, what we eat, the clothes we wear, and much more. You and I have the power to choose what is good and bad in our lives.

When we neglect ourselves, we limit our strength to do God’s work. Let us pray John’s prayer of prosperity and well-being for each other, asking God to bless us, both body and soul.