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1 Peter 4:9
9 Use hospitality [philoxenos] one to another [eis] [allelon] without [aneu] grudging [goggusmos]. KJV-Interlinear
9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. NASB
Hospitable means to be kind, courteous, polite, social and so forth, with family, friends, acquaintances and even with strangers.
But this hospitality is not limited to chance meetings or greetings, it is intended to be the attitude displayed to everyone all of the time. In other words, your demeanor day in and day out, everyday, throughout your life.
No good days and no bad days. No being nice only when you feel like it. And the tough one, being nice, even when others are not nice to you, or when others do not perform up to your expectations.
Children for example, can be a trying experience. Who picks up after them? Who reminds them? Who gets after them day in and day out? The mom (mostly), or both parents, naturally.
But as this is a learning and training experience for the kids, even if they do not realize it, it is also a trying or testing experience, established by God, for parents.
Have you ever known of the perfect child? No. And you cannot expect them to be perfect. So letting loose with a stream of comments or complaints is a failure to some extent, of the hospitality concept. However, reminding and issuing orders to clean up after themselves is perfectly legitimate.
As for friends and strangers. Do not treat any with one set of rules, and another group with another set of rules. Your personality while away from home, should be the same as it is when you are, at home.
Have you ever yelled at your spouse, and then answered the phone with the sweetest of voices? Ladies??
Ok, if I had a guy example I would certainly list it. But can’t think of one at the moment!!! But as most students are pretty bright, you’ll certainly think of better examples than I would.
Hospitable covers a wide range of behavior.
From not talking too loud, not dominating a conversation, not interrupting, the various forms of courtesy, to a ‘others first, me last’ attitude. If you think of yourself as your very own receptionist, representing yourself, with others being your paying guests, deserving the very best of service and courtesy, then you will have a behavior that conforms with this principle.
Life is tough, and being nice when under pressure is often difficult. We are all flawed and none of us are perfect, but with doctrine in our souls, then this personality behavior guideline can become much easier than you think.
Slip occasionally? Of course, but just confess (privately to God the Father) and re-gather yourself, and move on.
Remember, you are preparing yourself for your final review before Christ, which matters more than anything else.
