Having the Same Mind about Hospitality

Examining Scripture:

“Be of the same mind one toward another.
Mind not high things,
but condescend to men of low estate.
Be not wise in your own conceits.
Recompense to no man evil for evil.
Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”
Romans 12:16-17

Evaluating Soil:

Hospitality requires a selfless frame of mind. It takes our minds off of ourselves, our responsibilities, and our problems and causes us to open our hearts and homes to other people’s lives, needs, and wants. Being hospitable takes a thoughtful dose of humility that encourages us to put others’ comforts before our own.

We naturally think of our needs and wants first. After all, if we don’t, who will? Since we were each created with different personalities, we’re prone to have our own ideas, sentiments, and opinions. So, it’s clear that when God instructed us to, “Be of the same mind one toward another,” He wasn’t asking us to stifle who we are and stop thinking for ourselves. His desire is for us to strive for unity and to treat each other with the grace, love, patience, respect, and honesty He shows us.

While the world is full of many examples of hindered hospitality, we, as Christians, are faced with glaring opportunities to show the world what true Godly holiness, humility, and honesty are meant to be. The questions are, “How do we do it and are we willing to try?”

Experiencing Seasons:

In the last few years, after many seasons of loss and disappointment, I could feel my heart and mind becoming disheartened, disgruntled, and disagreeable. The hurts and heartaches I faced were making me hard and standoffish toward others. I was beginning to care less about what others needed, or wanted and felt justified focusing on my own needs and desires. As my attitude was becoming more short and icy toward others, showing hospitality strayed further from my mind. I felt more satisfied, safe, and secure staying shut off and to myself.

However, in my quest to follow the instructions I was reading and learning about from Scripture, I realized the direction I was going was not right. Not only was I not being hospitable, I was living a selfish, self-centered life. That’s not the holy life I desire to live. So, I’m working on making the necessary adjustments by:

• Renewing my spirit of hospitality for others
• Getting my home ready to be hospitable
• Looking for opportunities to show hospitality

Embracing Solace:

I’m not hospitable when I’m at odds with others. When I close my heart to the needs of family, friends, and acquaintances or refuse to be agreeable or foster the needed unity, solace quickly takes leave of my heart and home.

Enjoying Simplicity:

It’s really rather simple when we realize we’re not wiser or more important than everyone else. And, returning evil to mean people isn’t a viable solution for simplicity.

Employing Solutions:

It’s difficult to show holiness and hospitality to others when we’re struggling to maintain being of the same mind. Romans 12:16-17 shows us how to overcome this struggle by:

• Purposefully uniting our minds with those who are spiritually like-minded
• Not putting more focus on lofty or highly esteemed people or places
• Humbling ourselves to reach and interact with the less fortunate
• Abstaining from doing evil to those who do evil
• Being honest before others

Hospitality becomes much easier to share when we’re unified.

Bring It Home

Is your hospitality being hindered by the thoughts in your mind?

Praying for you as we grow together,
Smiles, BRC