Hospitality is one of the key virtues that the world is practicing – people mostly long for. This, however, is not so much seen among believers. They might look like practicing among church families or believers – however, mostly lack when it comes practicing hospitality among non-believers.
Romans 12 explains about the different gifts that God has given to the church of Christ by his grace. We read in verse 7, “if it is serving, then serve…”
Have you read it? It says God gives grace for different gifts. It says, “if it is serving, then serve”. We might think, I don’t have grace from God as a gift to serve, so I don’t feel like serving or I don’t have a serving personality. I don’t want to be in the serving team in my church family.
1 Peter 4:9 says “Show hospitality to one another without complaining.” It means – hospitality can be suppressed or blocked when there is a spirit of complaining. When we have the spirit of complaining or a fear of getting complaints – we cannot be someone to serve others, practice hospitality. It means – when we are free from complaining spirit – then we can definitely serve – practice hospitality.
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”(Hebrews 13:2)
Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.(Romans 12:13)
“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward”(Matthew 10:42)
Hospitality – we read in above two verses – ‘hospitality to strangers’ and then ‘hospitality to saints’. We are not to practice hospitality only with Church family members or among believers, rather to strangers as well. The third verse – Matthew 10:42 – says how simple it could be, when we are thinking it is a complex thing to practice. It can be practiced serving even with a cup of cold water. It says there is a reward. Reward is not our intention or goal but working with and working for the Lord is. Truth, there is reward in trusting the Lord, almighty God.
We read in Genesis 18, When Abram saw three men, he flew to them and said, Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.,. Then, we read how devoted his hospitality was. He asked her wife Sarai to make bread, and his servants to make a lamb and cook it. He himself was also in that business with full devotion.
In Genesis 19, we read how Lot demonstrated hospitality to two men(Angels) who came to him. He was ready to give his daughter, who had not experienced any sexual acts with any man yet, to those wicked persons to have sex who was demanding those two angels so that they can have sex with them. This means – any loss(shame) should be a minor when it comes to practicing hospitality.
Another great example, we read about a widow in Zarephath in 1 Kings 17:10-15. She was with her last meal, then prepared to wait for death as there was a great famine. In that very situation, she obeyed the word of Elijah – and served her with that very last bread.
I have seen church leaders, pastors in suits pretend to be busy in photo shoots to ignore beggars at the door of the party palace. I have seen the food serving team of believers and leaders – tried to give little instead of main course to the beggars – hungry women with kids to get rid of them. Serving someone equal or greater to our status – so called position – is easy, but reality reveals when it’s coming to serve someone who has almost no chance to pay us back. That’s why Jesus says, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid.” (Luke 14:12)
The authentic attitude of a righteous person looks different. In Matthew 25:34-38, we read a context- Jesus inviting righteous people to inherit the Kingdom prepared by God. However, those righteous people either were not proud of what they did, or were not aware of what actually matters when someone serves to anyone on the earth. It could be serving a cup of water, giving food to hungry ones, inviting a stranger to let them stay in our house at night, giving clothes to the needy, praying and caring for sick people, going to see someone in the prison, etc. When we do it – it’s something we do for the Lord. Those are the one who are blessed by Father, and inherit the Kingdom prepared for them from the creation of the world.
Let’s examine ourselves, and seek to serve others in any manner smaller or greater – that is serving the Lord. Let the Spirit of God teach us and give strength to us to exercise hospitality – and we glorify our Father God. Amen!