INSTRUCTION
We read in the Nativity story that “there was no room for them at the inn.” Those are familiar words, but this is not a Christmas message. Life in the first-century Roman Empire was far different from life today. Al - though inns existed, most people looked to private homes for hospitality.
In the dictionary, the word “hospitality” is wedged between “hospital” (a place of healing) and “hospice” (a place of shelter). The root of all three words is the Latin word translated as “guests.” Our homes are meant to be places of shelter and healing, havens of rest. The Greek word for hospitality (philoxenia) in the New Testament means “a love of strangers.” In Bible times, strangers were synonymous with enemies. One way to de - stroy enemies was to kill them. Another way was to befriend them. Hospitality does that.
What does the Bible say about hos - pitality? We’ll look first at biblical instruc - tion, then at some biblical examples, and then we’ll see how they relate to us today.
BIBLICAL INSTRUCTION ON HOSPITALITY
Hospitality is a mark of discipleship. In James 2:15-17, we read, “Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, ‘Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well,’ but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all—it is dead and useless.”
In his letter to the Romans, Paul directs us to “share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality” (12:13).
A modern translation to John’s com - mendation to the church is “Dear friend, when you extend hospitality to Chris - tian brothers and sisters, even when they are strangers, you make the faith visible. They’ve made a full report back to the church here, a message about your love. It’s good work you’re doing, helping these travelers on their way, hospitality worthy of God Himself! They set out under the ban - ner of the Name, and get no help from unbelievers. So they deserve any support we can give them. In providing meals and a bed, we become their companions in spreading the Truth” (3 John, The Mes - sage). The apostles Jesus sent to proclaim the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire depended on the hospitality of others. John is referring to the needs of these early church missionaries.
esus expresses His gratitude, saying, “I was a stranger and you took Me in” (Matt. 25:35). He also encourages hospitality toward others, saying, “If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of My followers, you will surely be rewarded” (Matt. 10:42).
Peter urges believers to “offer hospital - ity to one another without grumbling.” We should cheerfully open our homes to those in need.
BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF HOSPITALITY
Hospitality is deeply rooted in the Scrip - tures. In Genesis 18, when Abraham saw three strangers approach his tents, he called for his wife and servants to prepare a meal for them and watched over them as they rested in the shade of a tree.
Living in the desert, hospitality was a cultural necessity, with the understanding that the host might someday be a stranger in need. Believing in the providence of God, Abraham regarded these strangers as divinely sent. This was quite true, as they turned out to be angelic messengers from God. For his humble graciousness Abraham received a rich blessing. The author of Hebrews likely had Abraham in mind when he wrote that we should “show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it” (Heb. 13:2).
Later on, Abraham sent a servant to search for a suitable wife for his son Isaac. When the servant arrived at Rebekah’s home, he was cordially received, and her family’s hospitality helped convince the servant that God had chosen Rebekah to be Isaac’s bride.
To understand what hospitality is and what it is not, we need only look to Luke 10 and observe two women who welcomed Je - sus into their home—Mary and Martha. Here we learn about priorities—it’s more important to be with people, to spend time with our guests, than to fuss and be frustrated about housekeeping details. We choose our priorities by how we invest our time. Many of the Marthas of this world are frustrated perfectionists, and this includes men—hospitality is not exclusively a feminine task! We can be discouraged from entertaining because our standards are more important than the love we could be showing to others. Martha was in bondage to her standards.
The point of hospitality is not the lavish - ness of the food or surroundings but the rela - tionships we develop and the love we convey by involving ourselves with others. The food we serve is not the goal but a means to the goal. True hospitality is not pretentious—it is bringing people into our homes as honorary members of our family.
Do we really know what it’s like to lin - ger over a meal? This may be a lost art in our fast-paced culture, where eating has been reduced to a necessary function. Go to any fast-food place, and the atmosphere, even the uncomfortable chairs, are intentionally designed to get people in and out in a hurry. We’ve gone from grazing to gulping! Some homes are like fast-food restaurants. Families rush through meals and often do not even eat together, missing opportunities for close - ness and communion.
MODERN EXAMPLES OF HOSPITALITY
Now I’d like us to consider how to apply hospitality to our lives. We are our brother’s keeper. This means that when we have an opportunity to assist someone in need, we should consider it a divine appointment. Be - lieving in God’s providence means that there are no accidents, only appointments!
One way of showing hospitality is by holding a Bible study in a home or by orga - nizing a lunchtime study, prayer, or fellowship time at work. This could be a group project, with one person responsible for the logistics of setting up the activity and another person facilitating the activity.
Christian service projects provide ways of showing hospitality. These might include: volunteering to visit shut-ins or people in hospitals and nursing homes; working at the food pantry or a homeless shelter; preparing a meal for a neighbor who is bereaved or ill; welcoming newcomers to church and inviting them to our homes, helping out at a church dinner; or providing transportation for someone in need. God isn’t looking for any special ability, only our availability.
Hospitality extends to children. We need to welcome our children’s friends and teach our kids to show hospitality.
CONCLUSION
Hospitality is an attitude of the heart, a way of life, a form of grace. Have angels been to your home? Lord, show us how we can be - friend others. Make us channels of your grace and instruments of your love. Whether we are single or married, adult or young person, show us how we can demonstrate Christian hospitality. Amen.
General Conference Ministerial Association