Hospitality that Honors God
“Hospitality
is simply practical love.”[1] Hospitality has been
defined as the friendly and generous reception and welcome of people, including
friends, family, and strangers, into your home to care for them in some way. In
1 Timothy, the requirement for elders of the church is that they be hospitable
(1 Tim. 3:2). For the widow to be included on the list for widows she would have
needed to show hospitality to strangers, wash the saints’ feet, and assist
those in distress (1 Tim. 5:10). But hospitality is the command for all
believers, and it is a tool by which a God-fearing woman can meet the needs of
the saints, strangers, and those in distress.
In
the OT with the nomadic way of life, hospitality was an essential part of the
culture. Along with the reception into
the home for food and lodging, protection was provided. Hospitality was considered a sacred duty and
it was taken very seriously. Generational friendship was even established
between host and guest. This foundational aspect of the culture affected how
the NT believers viewed hospitality. So, we see believers like Jason, Priscilla
and Aquilla, and Onesiphorus opening their homes and providing for the needs of
Paul as he traveled to bring the gospel of Christ (Acts 17:5-7; Acts 18:3, 2
Tim. 1:16).
Three
texts from the Scripture can give believers direction on the command to them to
practice hospitality. The first, 1 Peter 4:9-11, directs believers to show
hospitality toward one another and without grumbling (4:9). In addition,
believers use hospitality as a means of using their gifts to minister to one
another as good stewards and doing it with the ability which God supplies and
for His glory (4:10-11). The second and third, Romans 12:13 and Hebrews 13:2,
will be looked at in the next post. These texts develop a foundation by which
believers can know and learn what hospitality looks like and how it should be
practiced.
Hospitality Without Complaint
1
Peter 4:9, “Be hospitable to one another without complaint.” Hospitality is
demonstrating love and care for others through practical means by meeting needs
and welcoming others in one’s home and life. It involves being concerned about
the concerns of others and with a joyful spirit seeking to minister to others
through the means God has supplied. Specifically, believers should be concerned
with caring for those within the household of God (Gal. 6:10). Requirements for
both elders and widows included showing hospitality, which for the widow
included “washing the saints’ feet,” which ultimately demonstrated a servant’s
heart toward other believers (1 Tim. 3:2; 5:10). And inviting others into one’s
home in order to minister to needs should be done without complaint or grumbling,
and instead practiced cheerfully. Complaining and grumbling includes murmuring.
The Bible admonishes all things to be carried out without complaining, and yet
gives a specific command in regard to hospitality (Phil. 2:14; 1 Peter 4:9). There
can be many challenges to face when having others in one’s home. There is
preparation, cleaning, menu planning, communication with the guest, disrupted
plans, messy house, broken household items, worry about others’ impressions,
and the list could continue. The believer carefully guards their heart and mind
and looks to the Lord to help them carry out hospitality in obedience to His
commands and do it cheerfully as unto the Lord.
Hospitality and Your Gifts
Hospitality
opens a door for the believer to use the gifts God has given them in order to
minister to others. 1 Peter 4:10-11 are the verses immediately following the
command to practice hospitality without grumbling. It says, “As each one has
received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of
the manifold grace of God. Whoever * speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking
the utterances of God; whoever * serves is to do so as one who is serving by
the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified
through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever.
Amen.” The Lord has graciously given His people a variety of gifts which are to
be used in order to build up the body of believers and to edify them. How
fitting that we can obey the command to show hospitality while using the gifts
God has granted to us.
Is
my gift a speaking gift: teaching, evangelism, or exhortation? I can
use my gift to minister to others that I invite into my home or extend myself
to in hospitality. Is my gift a serving gift: helps, showing mercy, giving,
etc.? I can use that too in a unique way through hospitality. I can steward my
gift by utilizing it through the ministry of hospitality.
What
might this look like? When I invite people to my home I can encourage them with
the Word of God, open my home to moms and young ladies and build up one
another, be a good listener by asking intentional questions and listening to
understand what my guest is communicating, or organizing play dates or bible
studies. I can let Ephesians 4:31 guide
my speech, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for
necessary edification that it may impart grace to the hearer.” I can impart
grace with my speech to those who participate in my hospitality. I also will
seek to apply Rom. 12:8 “or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives,
with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with
cheerfulness.” Give generously. Show mercy cheerfully. In these ways we reflect
our Savior and we faithfully steward His resources in obedience to Him.
Hospitality by His Power
The
hospitality, speaking, and serving that I desire to minister to others must be
done “by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be
glorified” (1 Pet. 4:11). If I try and do this act of obedience in my own
strength, I will quickly come to the end of my resources. However, if I lean on
the Lord for His wisdom, care, strength, and resources, He will help me to
accomplish all He desires to accomplish through the practice of hospitality. A
few warning signs that I’m leaning on my own resources are fear of others’
opinions, irritability when planning or hosting, desires to impress others,
talking too much and not listening enough, stress, or regretting extending an
invitation. These are indicators to me that my heart is not resting or relying
on God but is more consumed with its own desires and conveniences. But if I can
set my mind on eternal things and what God can accomplish through my
hospitality, then it will be reflected in how I approach and carry out this
spiritual duty. And when I can keep an eternal perspective then I can remember
that my efforts to be hospitable are ultimately for the glory of God, as all of
our life should be focused (1 Cor. 10:31).
Hospitality
seeks to meet the needs of others cheerfully and graciously in a practical way,
by opening our home and ministering our gifts by God’s power to those we have
the privilege to serve. May we honor the Lord in our hospitality.
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