Hospitality – Sharing the Bare Necessities
Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9
In Romans 12, Paul is teaching about how to live as a Christian. One of the commands he gives is, “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality” (Romans 12:13). This is one sentence. I take that to mean that hospitality to the saints should be a priority for us. This verse is in between two verses that speak of tribulation and persecution (as well as hope and prayer). Is Paul referring to more than inviting our friends for dinner?
Showing hospitality is the sharing of our homes and our possessions with others. Travelers, the hungry, the homeless, the orphan, the refugee, the one who is lonely or in a time of discouragement or despair (tribulation). I fear that our current culture allows us to leave all of these people to the local motels, homeless shelters, secular counselors, and orphanages.
God, through Paul, gave this charge of showing hospitality to the Church of Jesus Christ.
Earlier this week I wrote about how many Americans have given up the family meal time. I wonder if this contributes to our lack of confidence in inviting others to share in what we have been so graciously given. Family meals are practice for what God calls us to do for those outside our homes. If we are not comfortable in the kitchen, we are not likely to want to cook or be hospitable on a scale larger than our own families.
Even many of the people who object to putting up a tree and decorating their home at Christmas, admit that they keep the tradition of joining the family for a meal during the holidays. I have noticed that more and more restaurants are opening on the major holidays to accommodate families for their holiday meals. It makes me wonder what has happened to the concept of practicing hospitality in our homes. How many blessings are we forfeiting because it looks like a lot of work?
Beyond the simple fact that God blesses us when we obey Him, the scriptures indicate that there is a blessing involved when we practice hospitality. Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” That would be pretty cool, huh?
I am more likely to invite the friend than I am the “stranger.” I am seeing that this is a mistake. In order to obey God, serve the saints, and see the blessing, I am going to have to go outside of my comfort zone.
How about you? Who are we willing to invite in and show hospitality to in a way that will serve them and honor our great God?
I agree with your thought. I get hesitant about what kind of hospitality to show strangers because of safety issues. In today’s culture some people are not who they portray themselves to be.
Good thought Joan, I have thought about that, too. I guess it depends on who else we can include if we feel like we need some extra “security.” Do you think that sometimes we “know” God is prompting us to issue an invitation and our own fear keeps us immobilized? I guess it would also be a form of hospitality to meet them in a public restaurant and pay for the meal. And, what about that person who is still a stranger to us, but has been at church for several weeks in a row worshiping our God with us? Lots to think about here. Thanks for moving me a little!