One afternoon he came, knocked on the door, and apologized for interrupting us. He asked our permission to enter and retrieve something from one of his dressers. My immediate response was that this was his room and he could come in anytime. Although we were temporarily occupying the room as a place to keep our belongings and sleep, it had not become ours. This was still Boston’s room.
Boston acknowledged that this was his bedroom, but he chose to honor us by asking permission to enter. He had willingly agreed to temporarily give up his rights to this location of privacy and chose to prefer us in this situation. The room was his as was the bed we were sleeping in. Yet he chose to set down his personal right to enter and access his belongings at will.
Just as we were invited by our relatives to be guests into their home, Christians are called to welcome others into their midst. “Welcome and receive [to your hearts] one another, then, even as Christ has welcomed and received you, for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7 AMP) And as followers of Jesus Christ, we are commanded to prefer one another. “Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another.” (Romans 12:10 AMP) This kind act and accommodating attitude on Boston's part provided such a picture of this.
Although we may have Earthly possessions, we can lay them down for others. Jesus demonstrated that true love lays aside its own rights and desires for others. “This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you. No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends. You are My friends if you keep on doing the things which I command you to do.” (John 15:12-14 AMP) Obedience to this mandate brings the great reward of joy. Just prior to His command to love as He loves, Jesus stated, “If you keep My commandments [if you continue to obey My instructions], you will abide in My love and live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father's commandments and live on in His love. I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.” (John 15:10-11 AMP)
The apostle Paul even tells us to
consider others as more important than ourselves. “Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife,
selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the
true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as
better than and superior to
himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves]. Let
each of you esteem and look
upon and be concerned for not
[merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4 AMP) Paul goes on to cite
Jesus as our example in this. “Let
this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was
in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]” (Philippians 2:5 AMP) Looking to the benefit
of others is loving as Jesus does.
Our
Heavenly Father has given so much to His children. “May blessing (praise, laudation,
and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who
has blessed us in Christ with
every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm!” (Ephesians 1:3 AMP)
As He invites people into His family, we may occasionally find ourselves in positions
to lay aside immediate access to some of these spiritual blessings in order to
honor others. Displaying the attitude of selflessness does not diminish us. It
brings inner joy and allows us to shine with the love of Jesus.
Are you
holding onto your room, your stuff? Do you find it difficult to share with others?
Experience the true joy of having the attitude of Jesus by preferring others.
You will be blessed.
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