Given To Hospitality

Given To Hospitality

You might be asking yourself, “What does hosting a party or just having people over have to do with being a virtuous woman of God?” God is concerned about the natural as well as the spiritual aspects of our lives.

Let me share some scriptures concerning this topic:

Hebrews 13:2 (NLT):
Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

Romans 12:10-13 (NKJV):
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

Matthew 25:34-39 (NLT):
Then the King will say to those on the right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’

In the first two sets of scriptures we are exhorted to be “given to hospitality.” The New Living Translation states, “And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night.”

How often do we extend ourselves to others like this? I grew up in a home that was very hospitable. It seemed like my mom fed the neighborhood. We weren’t rich or didn't have a lot, but we always had enough pasta for whoever was hungry. My dad would bring trucker friends home with him from time to time. It was no problem. My parents were willing to open their home.

My parents are still this way. They purchased a minivan so they could bring people to church and take older ladies out. Another reason for the minivan is so my mom can cook meals for people and bring the food to their house. She keeps a laundry basket in the back of the van to put the food in so it doesn’t move around or spill over. They finished their basement so they could invite more people to their Bible study. They invite people over for dinner frequently.

Robb and I are this way, too. When we didn’t have anything and were barely making ends meet, we always had enough cold tuna/macaroni salad for anyone who might stop by. I made big bowls of it. Occasionally Robb brought home a hitchhiker with him. He witnessed to him and I fed him. It was fun. (Of course, I do not recommend picking up hitchhikers. Back then it wasn’t such a dangerous thing to do.) We consistently had people over for dinner. We had parties and Bible studies. At one point, our son Anthony didn’t sleep in his bed for 3 months because we had so many guests coming in and going out of our house. Families and single people have lived with us for long periods of time. We do it because we are “given to hospitality.”

Start being hospitable by doing little things. Have a few people over for dinner. Do a birthday party. Allow your children to have a friend spend the night. Take a meal over to your neighbor. Begin somewhere.

You might think your house or apartment is not big or nice enough to invite people over. No matter what the size of our dwelling, we always opened our home to others. Remember, God looks at the heart. Take care of what you have. Be faithful over little and God will make you faithful over much (Matthew 25:21, 23).