Reviving Hospitality!

Some Rights Reserved by SalFalko

Why is it that we think hospitality is just for the ladies?  One of the qualifications for an elder is “hospitable.”  It seems that hospitality is a dying virtue in our busy culture.

It was highly valued in Old Testament times.  We see it displayed by Abraham, Lot, the widow of Zarephath to Elijah and Joseph to his brothers.  The New Testament teaches us about this core virtue as well.  The Pharisee is rebuked by Jesus for his lack of hospitality.  The good Samaritan is a timeless example of true servanthood.  Mary, Martha, and Lazarus open their home to Jesus.  The early church was active in hospitality.  Elders and widows were both required to be hospitable.  Traveling Christians and itinerant preachers depended upon the hospitality of fellow Christians when they came into a new town.

Hospitality is important for the church to consider today.  Hospitality is wide in its application.  Hospitality today should involve:

• welcoming guests at worship services
• having people into your home
• hosting a church gathering
• preparing food for the sick or bereaved
• inviting a neighbor over for a bbq
• sitting with a homebound person
• taking a new couple to church out to eat

The list could be endless.  But hospitality should not be equated with entertaining.  Entertaining is about pleasure and mutual enjoyment.  Entertaining focuses on the event, and typically involves time with close friends and family.  Hospitality is about the other person.  It is about offering love to others without the expectation of a reward or mutual benefit.

We should take this important Christian duty seriously.  It is a great way to model the love of Christ to others.  it is my belief that hospitality is going to be an important church growth tool over the next 50 years.  Let’s be hospitable.