Ah, the good old days. This 1954 photo of family members who have all departed from this world to their eternal home in Heaven pictures hospitality to me. We all met together on holidays to share our food and spend time together. As Fall morphs into Thanksgiving and then Christmas, things seem to get busier and busier for people. Extended families make it harder to have the close connections and familiar traditions of yesteryear because families are spread out and new traditions are being made.
I think a good definition of hospitality is sharing willingly and gladly with others what you would share with your own family out of responsibility to care for your family. Hospitality is treating outsiders (non-family members) as you would your own family. Picture that holiday dinner table. You invite a friend, neighbor, or some other person whom you don’t know very well. You wouldn’t think of seating them at a separate table or serving them different food (unless dietary restrictions dictate it). Hospitality is sitting together, eating food prepared by and for all in attendance, and sharing conversation.
“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”
II Samuel 9:7, NIV
The Bible shows us many ways of being hospitable. In the above verse, King David had gone out of his way to find out if any of his friend Jonathan’s family was still living. When he found out that Mephibosheth was indeed still alive, he extended more hospitality than anyone could ever hope for. As was custom in those days, when a king was killed or deposed, his entire family would be killed to prevent them from taking over the throne. The fact that Mephibosheth was still alive gave David the opportunity to extend hospitality and kindness to his friend’s son. Sometimes hospitality takes on a face of caring for those who least deserve it, or those who don’t expect it, or those who may take advantage of the hospitality. But we are nevertheless commanded to show hospitality regardless of the outcome.
Meals were central in Jesus’ time and a shared meal became the center point of Christian worship. Jesus ate meals with believers and sinners alike. A prayer of blessing over the meal brought everyone together in thought and spirit. The most familiar and meaningful of all meals, of course, was the Lord’s Supper or as some call it, the Last Supper. Jesus showed hospitality throughout that entire evening as he washed the Disciples’ feet, as He broke the bread and shared it, and as He verbally prepared them for what was ahead for Him and for them.
What are some positive results of showing hospitality?
- New friends
- Opportunity to share the Gospel
- Blessings for both sides
- A new appreciation or understanding for what others may be going through
- Respect
- Learning from and about others
- Ministering to Jesus through others
- Preparation for further service
“When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them.
Always be eager to practice hospitality.”
Romans 12:13, NLT
The above verse specifies helping God’s people who are in need. That doesn’t mean that we ignore those who aren’t within the church fellowship, but all too often some Christians can be so focused on reaching out to the unsaved that they forget that quiet person who sits at the end of the pew in the corner alone and doesn’t speak up when they have a need. There will always be someone worse off than you and I, but there are times that we need to speak up and allow others to help us whether it’s a physical hand, emotional support, or financial assistance. If you have a need, don’t be afraid to speak up whether it’s to your pastor, a friend, or another believer in your fellowship. Others don’t know what you need if you don’t tell them.
Thus far we’ve talked mainly about a meal, but hospitality can be shown in other ways as well. When a family down the street has a house fire and loses everything, we can show hospitality by providing clothing for them to wear. You notice a traveler’s car is stranded by the side of the road and discover they ran out of gas. Provided it is a safe situation, you could give them a lift to get gas or go get gas and bring it back. Maybe someone you know needs a place to stay as they travel in your area or while their home is being repaired. Consider offering your spare room that is not being used anyway.
Look at your resources and consider what you have that you could share with others. Maybe it’s a loan such as a car while theirs is being repaired, or a crib for a new family who can’t afford one, or a gift of other possessions that can help someone get back on their feet. We all have plenty of things stored away that we never use which could be a godsend for someone else. One of the biggest and least costly resource is your time. Those who live alone need a second pair of hands or expertise to do some things. Consider taking on minor car maintenance for a single woman. Just someone to check the oil, fill the washer fluid, and put air in the tires would be a huge blessing, one thing off her to-do list that she may not even think about. Kids can take the newspaper or the mail to the door of an elderly neighbor. When you’ve cooked way too much, remember your neighbor who lives alone and doesn’t like to cook.
How will you show your hospitality to someone today?