Given to hospitality
December 23, 2008 > 2 Comments
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;…..Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Romans 12:10, 13
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
I Peter 4:8-9
In this busy, busy life it is easy to lose sight of this Biblical command of hospitality. While it is true that we may all be busy about the right things, family life, household duties, homeschooling, church work etc. hospitality is also an important “duty” for a Christian. It is a “duty” that most of us don’t realize the effect it can have in our churches and in our families.
Alexander Strauch in Hospitality Commands says:
“Through the ministry of hospitality, we share our most prized possessions. We share our family, home, finances, food, privacy, and time. Indeed we share our very lives. So, hospitality is always costly.”
Wow! Isn’t that so true!? And what is more important to America (and sadly American Christians!) than their free-time & money!? Not much…
He goes on to say:
“Through the ministry of hospitality, we provide friendship, acceptance, fellowship, refreshment, comfort, and love in one of the richest and deepest ways possible for humans to understand. Unless we open the doors of our homes to one another, the reality of the local church as a close-knit family of loving brothers and sisters is only a theory.“
Does your friendliness, hospitality and love for the brethren end when you get into your car to go home? Or do you invite your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to share in your life, in your family’s life?
In case your envisioning setting the perfect table, scouring your recipe books for the best recipes for delectable desserts…I am not necessarily talking about “entertaining.” Entertaining and giving hospitality are 2 totally separate things.
Consider this statement in Open Heart, Open Home:
“Entertaining has little to do with real hospitality. Secular entertaining is a terrible bondage. Its source is human pride. Demanding, perfecting, fostering the urge to impress, it is a rigorous taskmaster that enslaves. In contrast, scriptural hospitality is a freedom that liberates.
Entertaining says, ‘I want to impress you with my beautiful home, my clever decorating, my gourmet cooking.’ Hospitality, however, seeks to minister. It says, ‘This home is not mine. It is truly a gift from my Master. I am His servant, and I use it as He desires. Hospitality does not try to impress but to serve.”
If you really think about it, the urge for perfection, the need to have things just so, is not for the other person…but is for you…pure selfishness.
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Philippians 2:3
Not to suggest though that giving hospitality is not hard work. Our flesh will not always enjoy the exercise. It will require preparation, time, money. But everything that is really valuable, costs. Hospitality is a true test of our love for the Lord and for His people.
We need to remember that our homes are not only ours to enjoy but can be used as a tool to be a blessing and encouragement to others, Christians and non-Christians alike.
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Design By Joy 2009
January 2nd, 2009 @ 6:27 pm
I was convicted of this a couple of weeks ago. I am sometimes a bit of a recluse. I like my loved ones but I am not hospitalbe sometimes. Great post. Thank God that He can change us even when we feel unchangable
http://run4change.wordpress.com
January 6th, 2009 @ 10:07 pm
Hi! I think you’re excellent at hospitality, having enjoyed one happy and delicious meal with you. Think about you often! Do you have a new e-mail address? The Monday Morning Club notes have bounced back.