Hospitality vs. Unfriendliness Hospitality is using what God has given to us to demonstrate His love for others. Definition given means “to pursue, press on, follow after, earnestly One of two Greek words endeavour to acquire.” translated hospitality is philoxenos. rue hospitality 3. “Be not forgetful to entertain Philos means “friend” and xenos is bringing guests to a strangers: for thereby some T means “stranger; one bound by home in which the have entertained angels un- ties of hospitality; guest or host.” awares” (Hebrews 13:2). character of Christ is Hospitality is a concern for the 4. A bishop must be “given to welfare of those who are in need being demonstrated on a hospitality” and “a lover of daily basis. of food, clothing, or shelter. In hospitality,” because hospitality Scripture, philoxenos could be is to be a ministry of the church. Hospitality begins with an appropriately translated “caring (See I Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:8.) inventory of the physical and for strangers as if they were close spiritual resources we can friends or loved ones.” share with our guests. The Scope of Hospitality “A good man out of the good What Is Hospitality? Hospitality should be a treasure of the heart bringeth forth Jesus taught the principle of natural response of those who good things.” —Matthew 12:35 hospitality by saying, “When thou practice the teachings of Jesus, makest a dinner or a supper, call because it demonstrates the love not thy friends, nor thy brethren, and light of God. Love and light neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich do not choose their recipients; neighbours; lest they also bid thee they are available to all who again, and a recompence be made need them. thee. But when thou makest a “Ye have heard that it hath feast, call the poor, the maimed, been said, Thou shalt love thy the lame, the blind: And thou neighbour, and hate thine enemy. shalt be blessed; for they cannot But I say unto you, Love your en- recompense thee: for thou shalt be emies, bless them that curse you, recompensed at the resurrection do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despite- ospitality is of the just” (Luke 14:12–14). fully use you, and persecute you; Hsharing the love and light That ye may be the children of of Christ with those who Commands to Do It your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on are attracted to it. 1. “Use hospitality one to another the evil and on the good, and “If we walk in the light, as he is in without grudging” (I Peter 4:9). sendeth rain on the just and on the light, we have fellowship one 2. “Distributing to the necessity the unjust. For if ye love them with another.” —I John 1:7 of saints; given to hospitality” which love you, what reward have (Romans 12:13). Note: The word ye? do not even the publicans 110 Hospitality the same? And if ye salute your even to speak of those things brethren only, what do ye more which are done of them in secret” than others? do not even the pub- (Ephesians 5:11–12). “Make no licans so? Be ye therefore perfect, friendship with an angry man; even as your Father which is in and with a furious man thou heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:43–48). shalt not go” (Proverbs 22:24). The same message is given 4. A deceitful person or a liar in James. “If a brother or sister be should not be brought into the naked, and destitute of daily food, home. “He that worketh deceit And one of you say unto them, shall not dwell within my house: Depart in peace, be ye warmed he that telleth lies shall not and filled; notwithstanding ye tarry in my sight“ (Psalm 101:7). give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” (James 2:15–16). Rewards of Hospitality Believers are urged to show Bighorn sheep show Guidelines for hospitality to strangers; the one you hospitality by looking after each serve may be far more important other and sharing resources Hospitality than you realize. “Be not forgetful in their rugged mountain Even though believers are to to entertain strangers: for thereby environment. have a spirit of hospitality and some have entertained angels demonstrate hospitality to all unawares” (Hebrews 13:2). who need it, there are specific Examples of rewards: restrictions about the type of • Abraham showed hospitality to people who are to be brought into two strangers who were angels. a believer’s home. They informed him of the com- 1. A believer is not to eat a meal ing judgment upon Sodom and with another believer who per- Gomorrah. This gave Abraham sists in immoral behavior. “But an opportunity to intercede for now I have written unto you not the people (See Genesis 18.) to keep company, if any man that • Lot was a man of hospitality and is called a brother be a fornicator, demonstrated it by providing or covetous, or an idolater, or a housing and protection to the railer, or a drunkard, or an extor- same two angels who appeared tioner; with such an one no not to Abraham. He was aware of hen there is room the dangers that would face to eat” (I Corinthians 5:11). Win the heart, there is room these visitors if they were to 2. One who promotes false doctrine stay in the streets overnight. His in the house. —Dutch Proverb is not to be brought into the commitment to their protection home. “If there come any unto One who practices hospi- was incredible. Through his you, and bring not this doctrine, tality takes on the work of hospitality, he, his wife, and his Jesus Christ and becomes a receive him not into your house, daughters escaped the destruc- channel of His love to others. neither bid him God speed“ tion that came upon Sodom and (II John 10). Gomorrah (See Genesis 19.) “Inasmuch as ye have done it 3. A believer is not to have fellow- • The widow of Zarephath pro- unto one of the least of these my ship with an openly immoral or vided hospitality for Elijah. At brethren, ye have done it unto me.” angry person. “And have no his request, she used her last bit —Matthew 25:40 fellowship with the unfruitful of meal and oil to bake him bread. works of darkness, but rather God rewarded her hospitality reprove them. For it is a shame by providing food for her and Hospitality 111 her son, along with Elijah, as Personal Evaluation long as the drought lasted (See I Kings 17:8–16.) How hospitable are you? • The Shunammite woman took • Have you purposed to de- initiative and provided a fur- velop a spirit of hospitality nished chamber for Elisha on and to use your home to his regular trips through the city. demonstrate it? God rewarded her hospitality • Have you removed from by giving her a son and later your home clutter that bringing him back to life when would be a distraction to ur guests will feel as he died (See II Kings 4:8–37.) visitors? comfortable in our house • Peter received a blessing when • Have you taught each O he extended hospitality to Jesus. member of your family to as we are with the prepa- Peter’s mother-in-law was sick, practice proper etiquette rations we made for them. and when Jesus arrived and whether or not there are visitors in the home? The time to be concerned saw her need, He healed her. about how your house looks (See Matthew 8:14–15.) • Have you learned specific is not when guests arrive, but questions to ask in order to when guests are invited. The Key to Develop- develop friendships with ing Hospitality your guests? • When you invite others Four Levels of The ultimate reward of into your home, is your Friendship showing hospitality is knowing goal to make them comfort- that whenever we provide food, able, or is it to impress 1. Acquaintance Level clothing, or shelter for one of the them with your home? least in God’s kingdom, we are Those whom we meet along • Do you have items in your doing it unto Christ. the way, about whom we know home that reflect answers “For I was an hungered, and only general information to prayer or are testimonies ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, of God’s power? . Casual Level and ye gave me drink: I was a 2 • During conversation, do Those who are involved stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, you focus on the interests with us in activities and with and ye clothed me: I was sick, and of your guests or on the whom we can discuss common ye visited me: I was in prison, and things you and your family ye came unto me. interests, concerns, ideas, and have done? opinions “Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when • Have you prepared family 3. Close Level saw we thee an hungered, and activities, such as quoting Those with whom we have fed thee? or thirsty, and gave a passage of Scripture or playing music, that would common life goals and the thee drink? When saw we thee encourage your guests? ability to motivate each other a stranger, and took thee in? or to reach them naked, and clothed thee? Or when • Do you have a peaceful saw we thee sick, or in prison, and atmosphere in your home, 4. Intimate Level came unto thee? with appropriate music Those with whom we share “And the King shall answer and a spirit of harmony a mutual commitment to char- and say unto them, Verily I say among family members? acter goals and a freedom to unto you, Inasmuch as ye have • Do you have anything in point out blind spots in one done it unto one of the least of your home that would another these my brethren, ye have done offend a visitor? it unto me” (Matthew 25:35–40). 112 Hospitality