The Lost Art Of Hopitality...

Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”

Today we are not very hospitable to our friends much less strangers. In ancient Jewish culture hospitality was considered a virtue and a mandate. Remember Lot who showed kindness and hospitality to strangers and it saved his life? Remember Abraham who took in strangers who turned out to be Angels? Remember Sampson’s Parents? Some have entertained angels unaware. But more than that, when we show hospitality to others, we are really showing hospitality to Jesus. What we do to the least of these we have done unto him. (See Matthew 25:40)

God’s leaders must be hospitable. You can’t shepherd people spiritually without being hospitable. 1 Timothy 3:2 commands, “Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.” It’s not optional. It’s a mandate. It’s a requirement for Christian overseers. How many elders who are commanded to shepherd God’s flock are totally disconnected from the church members? How many and have a soul they are called to shepherd ever darken their door and receive Christian hospitality?

However, it’s not just our leaders; we are commanded to show hospitality to God’s leaders as well. 3 John 1:8 says about preachers of the Word, “We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.” When the missionary comes to visit, when the church has in a special speaker, or just for your local minister, you should be first in line to have them in your home to stay for a meal. Which preacher, missionary or even Sunday school teacher have you had over to your house?

We need to show hospitality to God’s people. Today we often make excuses for not being hospitable. We don’t have time. We don’t have the house for it. We are not good cooks. We don’t have room. We are good at conversation. But Romans 12:13 says, “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” So if you’re not good at hospitality… Practice. Ok Ok! So that is not exactly what that verse means by practice. It really means engage in hospitality. Either way, it’s something God has commanded us to do for each other. Are you doing it?

We need to be in each others lives and sharing life together. The body of Christ must be connected at a social level. Just sitting with strangers for 1 hour each Sunday morning for a “show” is not fellowship. We need to be sharing in the lives of other Christians and be teaching and loving each other on a personal level. One way to build that relationship level is to show hospitality to each other. Join a small group at your church this week. Have them over. Show hospitality. Pray together, study together, eat together, laugh together, cry together. It may not be natural at first but you'll catch on if you "practice" it.

1 Peter 4:9 “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” So stop complaining about the size of your house, the cost of food, the lack of time, the hard work, your poor cooking ability, or your lack social skills and offer some hospitality.

There is one more group we should offer hospitality too if we truly want to be rewarded in eternity. Jesus said in Luke 14: 12-14 "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

When is the last time you invited over someone who was not a friend and offered you nothing in return? We often show love and hospitality to those we like, those who offer us something in return. They share interests. They are co-workers. They are people we want to network with because they offer us something. It's easy to have friends over to eat and watch some football. It's easy to take the boss out to lunch. It's easy to focus on those who bless you...

But what about the poor, the lame, the hurting, the emotionally disturbed, the mentally ill, the ones who will not be fun to eat with? What about the old man in the nursing home? What about the widow who has no one? What about the mentally challenged lady at church? What about the shut-in couple who's health failed? What about the unruly neighbor kids who's parents ignore them? What about the preacher fired from a church for taking a stand for truth? What about the woman who's husband left her with two kids and no money? What about the town drunk? What about the sinners? What about the ex-con? What about the really rough and poor family? What about the people in jail? What we do to the least of these we do to Jesus. Are you hospitable to your Lord?