The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Be hospitable to one another without complaint.”

—1 Peter 4:9

If you’ve ever been a guest somewhere the hosts were complaining or grumbling about all the work they had to do or griping about the number of guests, or even to a restaurant where you could hear the servers complaining about their jobs, you know it doesn’t feel very hospitable.

Hebrews 13:17 says, “That they may do this with joy, not groaning; for this would be unhelpful for you.” This is speaking of leaders shepherding their churches, but it’s interesting that it addresses the same thing—if a service is done with groaning and complaint, it loses its benefit.

We can do the right things, but if we’re doing them with a complaining heart, we’re really not doing anyone any favors. It’s like serving fruit that looks good on the outside but is rotten in the middle. And rotten fruit won’t nourish anyone no matter how good it looks.

This is another reminder that heart–change—not just outward action—is what God is after. He doesn’t want us only doing the right things; he wants us doing the right things with the right attitude.

He doesn’t just want us to not murder; he wants us to not be angry (Matthew 5:21–26). He doesn’t just want us to not commit adultery; he wants us to not be lustful (Matthew 5:27–30). He doesn’t just want us to serve others; he wants us to serve others without complaining about it.

It’s easy to feel that as long as we’re doing the right things, we’re good. This is just another reminder that God desires not only our right actions, but “truth in the innermost being” (Psalm 51:6).

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