Text: Matt 25:35-40, 3 John 1:5-8
Christian hospitality is the friendly reception and treatment of guests, visitors or strangers in a warm and generous way. It denotes the reception and treatment of guests. It involves love, kindness, caring and sharing.
The Bible enjoins us in 1 Peter 4:9 to "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." Heb 13:2 reads "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."
Hospitality is a mark of true Christian and one should be given to it. Jesus Christ our Lord and saviour encouraged us to be hospitable by what he said in Matt 25:35-40.That when he was hungry, he was given something to eat, given something to drink when he was thirsty, invited in when he was a stranger and when he needed clothes; looked after when he was sick and was visited when he was in prison. And that any one doing these to the brethren is doing it for Him. He said it so that we should do such for brethren and he also made us realise that there is a reward for doing such. Beloved, be given to hospitality and practice it.
Let us consider some characters in the Bible who have shown hospitality to some people: Abraham, Lot, Lydia and the Shunamite woman.
Abraham. Gen 18:1-8.Abraham entertained three visitors near the tree of Mamre. While he sat at the entrance to his tent, he looked up and saw three men standing nearby.He hurried to meet them and bowed low to the ground. He pleaded for an opportunity to be hospitable to them by encouraging them to wash their feet with water and to rest under the tree. As they consented, he hurriedly prepared food for the visitors. While the visitors ate, he stood near them under a tree. His hospitality was rewarded with a promise of a child for Sarah and this was fulfilled. Abraham also had a revelation from God about His intention to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah and the privilege to plead with God concerning Sodom and Gomorrah.
Lot. Gen 19:1-21.Lot sat in the gate way of the city when he saw two angels. He got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. In verse 2 Lot said, " My Lords,""Please turn aside to your servant's house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning." Lot insisted strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared meal for them and they ate. Lot even defended and protected them against the men of the city of Sodom who wanted to have sex with them. Lot was rewarded for being hospitable. In verse 12, "The two men said to Lot, Do you have anyone else here sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it." Lot's hospitality to these strange people earned him safety and mercy from the LORD.
The Shunamite woman. 2 Kings 4:8-17.The woman urged Elisha to stay for a meal when he went to Shunem and whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. The woman, in agreement with her husband, made a place comfortable for Elisha to sleep whenever he passed by. Elisha was so impressed by her hospitality that he rewarded her. In 2 kings 4:14, "What can be done for her? Elisha asked, Gehazi said, She has no son and her husband is old. Elisha decreed in verse 15, "About this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms." The woman became pregnant and the following year, she gave birth to a son just as Elisha decreed.
Lydia from the city of Thyatira. Acts 16:13-15.She was hospitable to Paul. After she had listened to Paul's message, the LORD opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. Paul said, "When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home," She persuaded Paul to come and stay in her house. The Bible referred to her as a worshiper of God.
Brethren, hospitality is a mark of a true Christian and can be an avenue for expansion of the kingdom of God on earth. It should be extended to those whose office in the church is to teach the word. The Bible enjoins us in Gal 6:6 that anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
Also hospitality should be extended to first timers in the church as this will encourage those who are yet to find a place of worship to settle into. First impression about the church and its congregation matter a lot to people coming for the first time to worship in such a place. It promotes church growth.
Also hospitality can be extended to prisoners, widows, orphans, homeless, the lonely, the downtrodden, the poor and those in distress. Heb 13:3. For these groups you may have to look out for them because they are not or may not likely to be your guests or visitors. You are admonished to share with Lord's people who are in need. Rom 12:13. Expected of an overseer is hospitality. 1 Tim 3:2. Show hospitality and do it in a way that honours God and you shall be rewarded. Abraham, Lot and the Shunamite woman were all rewarded.
Some people may be encouraged by the hospitality shown to them and may want to serve the LORD you are serving and through that give their lives to Christ and you in return will be promoting church growth and winning souls for Christ.
Beloved, imbibe hospitality and practice it.
Prayer.Hospitality involves love, kindness, caring and sharing. Father, endow me with these virtues and grant me the grace to be sensitive and responsive to the hospitality needs of people in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
