Although we were outsiders, those wandering aimlessly in the spiritual wastelands, Christ welcomed us into his kingdom and clothed us in his own robes of righteousness. Jesus demonstrates hospitality in how he cared for the poor and needy during his earthly ministry, and he continues his ministry of hospitality through the Church.
Hospitality is a vital aspect of the Christian life. The New Testament repeatedly calls us to a life of hospitality:
- Romans 12:13- “Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.”
- Hebrews 13:1–2- “Let brotherly love continue. Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.”
- First Peter 4:8–9- “The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining.”
- It’s a qualification for elders of the church: First Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8.
Despite the calls to hospitality, many Christians neglect to open up their homes to others. Often, this is due to believing lies that override our desire to be hospitable.
Lie #1: “My house is a mess, so I can’t have people over.”
Truth: We’re all a mess.
Do you believe that your house needs to be immaculate in order to host others for a meal?
We have a table in our school room, which is the first room that guests enter, that attracts clutter like ducks to a pond. Often, dirty socks and kids’ book are strewn about our living room, like our kids are leaving a trail of bread crumbs to retrace their steps from the day’s activities. Would I like guests to enter and see a perfectly de-cluttered table and house? Sure.
But, guess what. Our lives, like our houses, are cluttered with all sorts of unsightly things. Fear keeps us from inviting people into our lives or our homes, fear that they might actually see that not all is perfect. The gospel, though, frees us from the idol of public perception. I am sinner, but Christ’s perfect righteousness is what defines my life.
Aim for a welcoming home, but don’t worry if there’s a bit of unfolded laundry on the couch. The guests won’t mind. In fact, it’ll probably remind them of their own home.
Lie #2: “I don’t have time to cook a nice meal.”
Truth: You don’t need a nice meal for a nice time.
We live in a time when people feel more isolated than ever, despite the fact that we are more technologically connected than ever before. People long for meaningful, face-to-face friendships, so even if you have a simple meal, the people will most likely remember the conversation, not the menu.
My wife is the primary cooker in our home, and she typically has a couple of go-to dishes for guests. Especially on Sundays, she doesn’t have time to cook an elaborate meal. Instead, she throws some meat in the slow cooker before we head to worship, or we do something like taco bowls, which are tasty and allow guests to customize their own bowls to account for varying levels of pickiness.
But if you’re a terrible cook, go grab a couple of frozen pizzas or a rotisserie chicken from the local grocery store, and enjoy.
Lie #3: “We’ll do it when things slow down.”
Truth: Hospitality will never be convenient. But it’s biblical.
Busyness is one of the defining characteristics of our American society. Especially with the growth of youth sports and activities, it’s easy to have some type of scheduled event every evening of the week. While these may be good things, the question to ask is whether we are allowing good things to crowd out godly and biblical things in our schedule.
Scripture is not clear that we should be running the roads every night, going to and fro to every sort of extracurricular activity. However, the Bible is clear that the Christian life should be marked by hospitality. This is an important aspect of entrusting the gospel to our kids, as they see the priority of the gospel and welcoming others into the home.
Choose a rhythm that works for your season of life. For instance, if you have small children, hosting a weekly, late-night Bible study for college students may not be ideal at this point. Find what works and dive in.
Lie #4: “My home is my sanctuary.”
Truth: The Lord owns everything, and we are his stewards.
You may deal with people all day, and your home is the place where you can relax and be you. Particularly if you are introverted, the desire may be strong to get home each day, close the blinds, and block out the world.
While there is nothing wrong with recharging the personal batteries, we recharge for the sake of being used for the sake of the Kingdom. The home you have—whether it’s a studio apartment or sprawling mansion—is a tool given to you by the Lord to use for the sake of his kingdom. It was never meant to be a place where you simply retreat from the world.
In a world that is more isolated and disconnected than ever, hospitality is a small, yet counter-cultural way to reflect the kingdom of Christ that has come to welcome the stranger, the broken, and the overlooked.
What are the ways that you have incorporated hospitality into the rhythms of life? Feel free to let us know in the comments.
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