1Tim 3:2, “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behaviour, hospitable, able to teach.” Rom 12:13, “….distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.” 1Peter 4:9, “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.”
The Bible makes much of hospitality. But what exactly is it? The word itself is made up of two ideas – fondness and foreign. Brought together the thrust is to show fondness / friendship toward those who are foreign / strangers. We naturally make time for family and friends, but to be hospitable is to reach out to people who are not as well-known to us. This does not necessarily mean or is not limited to complete strangers, rather people with whom we are less familiar; those outside our inner circle of closeness.
Hospitality is often equated to entertaining around a meal. It is right to say that opening our home to guests is an aspect of hospitality. Not everyone, however, is in a position to do so. Furthermore, entertaining can take on a wrong focus. It becomes about the hosts, the home, and the food. Biblical hospitality is concerned with people; it is to show interest and care, it is a desire to give and to share, it seeks to relate and encourage. By all means entertain, but don’t limit hospitality to entertaining.
Here are four principles to bear in mind when it comes to being hospitable.
Hospitality is prayerful – it begins in the secret place praying for God to bless those Whom He has brought across our path; praying that we would build bridges and get to know them.
Hospitality is proactive – it reaches out; it doesn’t wait for others to make the first move – be friendly to me and I will be friendly to you. Hospitality simply begins by welcoming new people in church.
Hospitality is practical – it rolls its sleeves up; it doesn’t put a cost on things. The desire is to bless and so offering help, making time, sending a message, giving a gift, etc. is not too much trouble.
Hospitality is personal – electronic forms of communication have a place, but it means more than that. True hospitality involves fellowship, face to face interaction.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of hospitality. He ministered to those on the fringe (the destitute, diseased, marginalised, gentiles, etc.). He was frequently found in people’s homes and a guest at their banquets (not having a home of His own). He initiated interaction with people and always had time when they approached Him. When He saw needs He supplied what was needed. If we are not hospitable, we are not Christlike.
To be hospitable is not merely to be nice, it is to demonstrate the character of God. It is to bless just as we have been blessed. God came to us in the filthiness of our sin when we were strangers to Him, even His enemies. He offered forgiveness and friendship. May we be of the same hospitable spirit to those around us.