Hospitality
Hospitality is a Command
“Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
(Romans 12:13 NIV)
Hospitality is not optional for the Christian; it is a command from Jesus. We are to PRACTICE hospitality. In other words, we are to show hospitality over and over again.
Hospitality Demonstrates our Love for Jesus
“Come, you who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took me in…I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me!”
(Matthew 25:34-36; 40 NIV)
If we love Jesus, we will obey Him. When we serve others with hospitality—good food, drinks to quench thirst, and a welcome into our home, we are really doing it for the Lord!
Jesus is our Example of Hospitality
“Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.”
(John 21:11-14 NIV)
Jesus began his ministry by showing hospitality to two of John the Baptist’s disciples, one of which was Andrew, Peter’s brother. He continued to welcome the disciples into His heart and life. After rising from the dead, Jesus made breakfast for His disciples on the beach.
Servanthood is the Heart of Hospitality
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
(Matthew 20:27-28 NIV)
Servanthood is necessary to show biblical hospitality. When we serve people, we are really serving Jesus and imitating His love!
Hospitality begins with the Spirit of Welcome
“Greet all your leaders and all God’s people.”
(I Thessalonians 5:26 NIV)
A spirit of welcome lives inside a hospitable man or woman of God! “Welcome to my world!” is the cry of the hospitable heart to the world around them. Welcome is expressed by greeting others warmly, listening with interest, and extending acceptance.
Hospitality is a Ministry
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'”
(Matthew 25:37-40 NIV)
Hospitality is a ministry to God! When we show hospitality to others, we build them up in the Lord and help them to grow! Also, we are actually doing it all for Jesus! What a motivation to show hospitality!
Hospitality is a Lifestyle
“Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.”
(Romans 16:23 NIV)
Gaius practiced a lifestyle of hospitality, not limited to certain people, not limited to convenient times. He opened his home in season and out of season. And people ENJOYED his hospitality!
Hospitality Requires Good Manners
“Love is not rude.”
(I Corinthians 13:5 NIV)
Good manners, when practiced, help the folks around you to feel comfortable and welcomed. Kindness is the root of good manners, a desire to build people up in the Lord!
Hospitality is Sign of Maturity in the Lord
“An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7Since an overseer[b] is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.”
(Titus 1:6-8 NIV)
Elders must be men who are hospitable. This requires wives and families who are hospitable too! You see, to take care of God’s people, hospitality is a requirement. To help bring people to maturity in God, leaders must welcome them into their hearts, lives, and homes.
Hospitality is Rewarded by Jesus
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
(Galatians 6:9 NIV)
“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”
(Hebrews 13:2 NIV)
“A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”
(Proverbs 11:25 NIV)