The lost art of hospitality

 

People now days seem to be so focused on themselves and their lives, they seem to not care about others as much as other societies did. Of course, no culture or society has been perfect in this area (or in any other area for that matter). But hospitality does seem to be a lost art. With social media, texting, and the public school system and workplace, people spend less time getting together, talking, investing in each other's lives, and hosting others in their homes. Our culture seems to runaway from the idea of serving others and run towards that bigger, better career. They seem to want us to spend more time worried about ourselves then actually serving others. And with the ease of texting, Facebook, Instagram, etc., people don't have real conversations, as much, anymore. They tend to text instead of sitting down with one another and chatting. They tend to post about what they've done today, instead of asking others how they've been. They tend to look to the media for advice instead of seeking advice from godly people in their lives. Now I know not everyone who texts, or has social media, uses it for these reasons. But it can become easy to fall into the ways of the world and care so much about ourselves, when we should be seeking to serve. And one of the biggest ways to serve others is through hospitality.

So first I'm going to take you through some verses about hospitality:

Romans 12:13 "Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." As believers we are called to show hospitality to other believers.

1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:8 tells us that one qualification for an elder is hospitality. Hospitality is such an important character quality for a Christian that God gives it as one qualification a leader of the church must meet.

Godly, older women will have practiced hospitality. When Paul is telling Timothy what type of widows in the church the church must support financially, he says that this women would have practiced hospitality. (1 Timothy 5:10)

1 Peter 4:9-10 "Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." We are called to show hospitality that is genuine and joyful. We are to joyfully serve. And we are also called to use our gifts, talents, and intelligence to serve others. God give us these abilities to honor Him and serve those around us.

Hebrews 13:2 "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." We are not to neglect the practice of hospitality, even to strangers!

Leviticus 19:34 "You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God." When God gives Israel the law in the Old Testament, He also reminds them to show love to the foreigners. One way to show love is to serve someone and put them first (showing hospitality).

Luke 8:1-3 "Soon afterward He went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: . . . who provided for them out of their means." These women, whom Jesus healed, went with Him into cities and villages to provide for Him and His disciples. They played a beautiful role as women, and practiced  hospitality.

Galatians 5:13 "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." Out of a love for one another we will serve one another.

Galatians 6:19-10 "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." We must persevere and continue to do good to others and practice hospitality and serving whenever an opportunity arrives. We should be on the lookout and willingly seeking out ways to serve others.

Luke 14:12-14 "He said also to the man who had invited Him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just." " Jesus tells us to even practice hospitality towards the poor, sick, and lowly. We should never practice hospitality towards family, friends, or the rich if we are simply seeking to be repaid. But we must do it out of love.

Romans 16:2 "that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well." Paul gives instructions to the church in Rome to receive Phoebe and welcome her. As the body of Christ we should seek to help, welcome, and care for one another.

So what exactly is hospitality:

Hosting

Opening your home

Serving

Practicing generosity

Implementing kindness

Trying to be helpful

Always being welcoming

Loving

Instituting consideration 

Targeting friendliness

Yearning to care for others

Here are some practical ideas to live out hospitality:

1. Develop a serving, self-less heart

It is easy to willingly and joyfully serve others when the focus is off of ourselves. When we focus on ourselves we won't want to serve if it goes out of our way, out of our comfort zone, or is of any inconvenience. But as we pray that the Lord would grow a selfless heart in us, we begin to take our eyes off of ourselves. And remember, it is a daily battle. (Lk 9:23) 

2. Seek out those in need

Luke 14:12-14 tells us to practice hospitality to the poor, lowly, and sick. Also in Romans 12 it tells us to associate with the lowly, and the Proverbs 31 woman (a woman who fears the Lord) opens her hand to the needy. As you seek to put serving into action, seek out those who need it most. Do you know someone going through a hard time? With a disease? Who is poor? Those who are in need are those who can be touched by our hospitality even more.

3. Use your gifts to joyfully serve fellow believers

As you seek to live out hospitality, keep your attitude in check. Are you doing it just because you have to? Or are you doing it out of a love for Christ? If your eyes are off of yourself (our 1st practical way to live out hospitality) and your eyes are on Christ, and if you truly love Him, you will serve others JOYFULLY. It should be a true joy to us to see other fellow believers benefit from our service to them. We should use what God has given us (gifts/talents, intelligence, wealth, health, our house, etc.) to benefit, love, and serve our brothers and sisters in Christ. And it should be a joy to us!

4.  Take any opportunities that arise 

When an opportunity to serve arises, take it! If someone is not willing to take an opportunity that comes right to them, then how will they willing seek out to live a life of hospitality?!? When you see someone who is working (maybe doing dishes, cleaning, setting up for an event, etc.) offer to help. When you see someone busy and trying to perform multiple task at one time (a mom trying to push a cart, hold a child, and pick up something she dropped, all at the same time, etc.), offer your help. Take opportunities, like when your out to eat, to bless other people, like paying for their meal/coffee/etc.. When an opportunity comes, and you recognize it, don't let it escape. Use it, and glorify God in doing it.

5. Pursue hospitality

It's one thing to take opportunities as they come. But they don't often come. And sometimes they do come, but we don't notice them. We cannot just wait until a moment arises, but we must pursue ways we can serve. Plan and pursue ways you can practically serve others. Maybe invite a family over for dinner, open your house for a Bible study, think of someone you can bless with a meal, send a note of encouragement to people (especially those going through hard times), speak kind words to others, express your gratitude to others, seek out and talk to the unlovable (the poor, sick, not popular, lowly people), and open your home in love to others. 

There are many other ways you could pursue hospitality. And if you have any ideas, comment below! But these 5 tips will hopefully help you start to practice the lost art of hospitality! I would love to hear from anyone who puts these 5 tips into practice. Did they help you? Is there anything else you would add? Why do you think it's important to practice hospitality? 

May you seek to love Christ more and more so that you may joyfully serve Him!