GRACE BIBLE CHURCH

Here is a characteristic we all like!! Especially if we are on the receiving end. It’s good to be the recipient of warm and enjoyable hospitality. We don’t have to study word derivation and background history to know that hospitality is being kind and welcoming to all, especially to strangers. A hospital is a place of help, originally it was a place where guests stayed. The dictionary says tells us that one who is hospitable is “receptive and charitable.”

It would benefit you to take a moment and look up all the Biblical references to this good word. It will soon appear that God expects His people to practice this great characteristic. When Paul writes to the church at Rome, he outlines for us the great redemptive work of the Savior. He describes the marvelous doctrine of Salvation in minute detail. And then in Chapter 12 he moves toward a clear call to the believer as to how he now should live. Those verses give details as to the Christian’s ethic, his manner of living, and his daily conduct. And note that right in the middle of his listings and advice comes this clear call—“practice hospitality.” (Rom. 12:13)

Over and over again we are given clear instruction in this area. Check any concordance and see how often this call is given. You will be helped as you review: I Tim. 3:2(characteristic of an overseer in the church is hospitality): I Tim. 5:10(here is a description of a godly woman who “shows hospitality”): Titus 1:8(leaders of the Church must “practice hospitality”): Heb. 13:2(entertain strangers, could be an angel): I Peter 4:9(Offer hospitality to one another) The Bible expects God’s people to be hospitable.

Dr. Ray Stedman preached a wonderful sermon and touched on hospitality in this way. “Paul, writing about the Macedonians, said ‘out of their deep poverty they gave liberally, first they gave themselves to the Lord, and then they gave themselves to us.’(2 Cor. 8:2-3) This is the normal Christian live-it is easy to live with-it is easy to work with-it is a wonderful kind of life. When you meet people who, like this, are showing the genuine love of the Spirit of God, you find that they are delightful people, you love to be around them, you love to work with them, you find them pleasant and approachable.” Hospitality and a hospitable spirit and attitude honor the Lord.

Our churches are challenged by the practice of hospitality. Some of our places of worship are so large with so many people it is really difficult to locate a visitor and make him feel welcome. People often either stay or leave the church on the basis of the feeling of welcome they receive. Christianity Today carried an article some time ago entitled, “Whatever Happened to Hospitality?” We need to ask ourselves that question. I know we are often afraid of strangers, and sometimes with good cause. But we need to ask the Lord to help us be careful and be hospitable when possible.

“The difference between entertaining and hospitality is this: When you entertain you’re concerned about how beautiful your table is or how clean your house is because you want to make a good impression; when you are hospitable, your focus is on the person. You seek to minister, to meet that person’s needs.”( The Bible for Today’s Christian Women-out of print.)

One of the great pleas for Christian hospitality is found in Matthew 25. Jesus tells a story about a king who told his people, “here is your reward for taking care of me.” His people answered incredulously, “When did we take care of you?” They had no recollection of ever even being in the presence of the king, The King replies to this: “You rendered services to one of the humblest, my brothers, these little ones-and you did it for me.” Matt. 25:40. Practice hospitality!!