Hospitality
343
ones God has given you. They are watching you, and no course of
yours should direct their feet in the wrong way. Be to your visitors
just what you are to your family every day—pleasant, considerate, and
courteous. In this way all can be educators, an example of good works.
They testify that there is something more essential than to keep the
mind on what they shall eat and drink and wherewithal they shall be
clothed
Maintain a Peaceful, Restful Atmosphere—We would be much
happier and more useful if our home life and social intercourse were
governed by the meekness and simplicity of Christ. Instead of toiling
for display to excite the admiration or the envy of visitors, we should
endeavor to make all around us happy by our cheerfulness, sympathy,
and love. Let visitors see that we are striving to conform to the will of
Christ. Let them see in us, even though our lot is humble, a spirit of
content and gratitude. The very atmosphere of a truly Christian home
is that of peace and restfulness. Such an example will not be without
effect
An Expense Account Is Kept in Heaven—Christ keeps an ac-
count of every expense incurred in entertaining for His sake. He
supplies all that is necessary for this work. Those who for Christ’s
sake entertain their brethren, doing their best to make the visit prof-
itable both to their guests and to themselves, are recorded in heaven as
worthy of special blessings....
[451]
Christ has given in His own life a lesson of hospitality. When
surrounded by the hungry multitude beside the sea, He did not send
them unrefreshed to their homes. He said to His disciples: “Give ye
them to eat.”
Matthew 14:16
. And by an act of creative power He
supplied food sufficient to satisfy their need. Yet how simple was the
food provided! There were no luxuries. He who had all the resources
of heaven at His command could have spread for the people a rich
repast. But He supplied only that which would suffice for their need,
that which was the daily food of the fisherfolk about the sea.
If men were today simple in their habits, living in harmony with
nature’s laws, there would be an abundant supply for all the needs of
9
Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 143
.
10
The Review and Herald, November 29, 1887
.