The Pursuit of Hospitality

Before my son was born, hosting guests in our home looked very different than it does for me now that I have a toddler on the loose. No longer do our guests arrive to find a 5 or 6 dish meal with homemade biscuits on the table, where we all open our Bibles and carry on (uninterrupted) conversations about the book of Galatians or the doctrine of baptisms.

Although my little guy finally sleeps all night (most of the time!), and my husband and I look slightly less like baggy-eyed raccoons than we did last year at this time, I still will probably never attempt to create meals for guests like I did before the commencement of motherhood (from-scratch-pasta anyone? a multiple course Asian meal?). These days, I just try to make sure that the peas are salted, double-check that the dishwasher did its thing for the silverware, and scoot trains from off the rug at the front door.

Oh, and prep my two-year-old not to pee on our company. Stuff like that.

As I have been working on writing this article on the art and ministry of hospitality, I have a confession to make: the pursuit of God’s word on this topic during the last few weeks has convicted my heart and caused me to seek God’s grace and forgiveness of my own neglect of God’s command to show hospitality.

“Command? Hospitality is a command??“ I asked myself.

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2

“Do not neglect” hospitality, also translated from the Greek as “Don’t forget hospitality, [Amanda]!”

In the busy-ness and routine of life, I have forgotten hospitality, relegating it to something that I will “get done” if I have any energy left at the end of the week and happen to be in town this weekend. I plan to do it later if I can get the house in shape for company by Saturday afternoon, if I ever get the stains out of the slipcover, or if I make it to the grocery store before Friday morning.

I began writing this article weeks ago, but I keep digging deeper and deeper into the ministry of hospitality. I find myself reflecting on why I have been so quick to forget the pursuit of hospitality and how I can carve time into my family’s life to offer this service of love to others, aligning my schedule with God’s priorities.

Biblically, I am commanded not to forget this important ministry. In looking at several key passages (Romans 12:13; Hebrews 13:2; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8; 1 Peter 4:9; Genesis 18 and 19), I have not only confessed to God my forgetfulness, but I’m also EXCITED about the good gift that God has given us of loving others hospitably.

It’s clear that this hospitality-serving is commanded by God, but what does hospitality really mean? Does it entail new seasonal throw pillows? Providing entertainment for guests? Impressing others with our homemaking and kitchen skills?

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.” Romans 12:10-13

Philoxenos is the Greek word translated into English as hospitality, and it means love to strangers and guests.
And the Greek word in Romans 12:13 for practicing is diōkontes, which is best understood in English as “aggressively chase” and “earnestly pursue.”

God knows our human tendencies to be forgetful and wrapped up in our own selves, so He commands us to “chase after love to guests.” We run and chase after hospitableness.

Rather than neglecting this ministry, we are commanded to love one another, pursuing hospitality without grumbling or complaining about it (1 Peter 4:9).

In Genesis 18 and 19, we see a working-out of the command in Hebrews 13:2, and we are blessed to have an example of what biblical hospitality looks like. Abraham and Lot both chased after hospitality. Not only was their pursuit a ministry of love for God and faith in Him, but it was a very practical and hands-on service that they (unknowingly) offered to angels and even to God Himself.

Both of these men, in separate accounts, showed hospitality to strangers.

• ..They invited the strangers to their homes (insisting that the strangers come aside so that they could serve them).
• ..They offered water for the washing of their feet.
• ..They served food to them (which Abraham did with the assistance of his wife, Sarah).
• ..They provided shade or shelter for the strangers to rest and be refreshed.
• ..Lot even provided overnight lodging for his guests.

Nowhere do we see that Abraham and Lot had to have large dwellings (it appears that Abraham served his guests outdoors under a nice shade tree). Abraham selected for his guests the finest food he could offer (it seems that he was prepared to show hospitality). But he also offered to his guests what was available to him at the time. He did not allow the guests to pass by with the plan of offering hospitality at a later time when he had ordered fresh spices from afar or until the heat of the day had passed on. Abraham and Lot did not neglect the ministry that God gave to them.

There is no Biblical mandate that offering hospitality is to be done weekly, monthly, or every holiday — rather, we are to be actively PURSUING it. We are to be like Abraham and Lot, chasing down opportunities to open our hearts and homes to others.

Because this study on hospitality has so convicted and challenged me, I want to expand in some upcoming articles about pursuing God in the realm of hospitality. I’ve been reviewing some ideas that I have learned over the years to refresh my heart and mind in the practical aspects of bringing people into my home and making them feel welcomed and wanted.

“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:8-10

What are the challenges you face at this place in your life as you seek to offer hospitality? (For us, it’s just that my husband and I are plain tired a lot of times and neglect making this ministry a priority.)
How does showing hospitality reflect the gospel, and how can you and I reflect the gospel in our pursuit of God and love for others in this area? I want to make my home a gospel-grace-haven, so let’s dig into this subject a little deeper. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts as I seek to grow and am challenged in this area.

With love,
amanda

Resources and Links

What a blessing Nancy Leigh DeMoss and her ministry Revive Our Hearts is to me. Here are two radio teachings that you can listen to online. I have been encouraged and challenged by them. Opening Your Heart and Home & Hospitality Doesn’t Require Perfect Homes.

..This post is happily shared with Thrive @ Home Thursday and Thriving Thursday..