Given to Hospitality

by Emily B.
from Virtuous Daughters, April 2011~Volume 11, Number 

Throughout the New Testament, there are several verses which speak about showing hospitality to others. In 1 Peter 4:9, we are told, “Use hospitality one to another without grudging.” Two other passages list  hospitality as a requirement for leaders in the church. There are numerous examples of people who showed hospitality to others, in the Bible. Think of Mary and Martha, who with their brother, Lazarus, received Jesus into their home! Later, we see believers opening their homes to other Christians as thy traveled through each area. And in Romans 12:13, we read that we should be “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

   What exactly is hospitality? I would describe hospitality as opening your home to others for the purpose of fellowship with other Christians or to show Christ’s love to those who do not know Him. A home where the Lord is glorified can be a great testimony to the lost! Hospitality can also be a ministry, as you seek to minister to the needs of others. Many lonely people, especially the elderly, love spending time with a family. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines the word as, “The act or practice of receiving and entertaining strangers or guests without reward, or with kind and generous liberality.”

   As my family has given and received hospitality over the years, I’ve seen what a blessing it can be . . . not only to the people you have over, but to your own family, too! I’d like to share a few practical ideas that have been helpful in our own experience.

   When you invite guests, try to find out ahead of time if they have any allergies to food or pets. Their visit will be more enjoyable if these things are taken care of ahead of time! For food allergies, try to make note of good recipes that don’t call for ingredients such as dairy, sugar, etc., so that you can find and use them again in the future. If young children are coming over, we like to put out some age-appropriate toys/books that they may like to play with.

   What will you serve for dinner? It doesn’t have to be “fancy”! Sometimes in the summer, we like to grill hotdogs, hamburgers, or chicken and serve it along with corn on the cob or another vegetable, a cold macaroni or potato salad, and a lettuce salad. This is especially good for feeding a lot of people! For unexpected guests, we’ll often make a big pot of spaghetti or noodles with sauce, since that doesn’t take long to put together. Served with bread and a salad, it makes a complete meal! Other times we’ll just double (or triple . . . :)) a favorite meal. A dessert is always nice to finish off the meal, too! My mom and I try to do as much food preparation ahead of time as we can, since that frees us to visit with our guests more while they are here.

   Depending on who your guests are, and what their ages are, you may find yourself with various responsibilities as you help your family with hospitality. Are there young children? Maybe you can play a game with them or hold the baby while the parents visit. Or perhaps you’ll be needed to put food away or clean the dishes after eating. This can actually be fun, especially if you can visit with your friends while you work! One thing we sometimes enjoy doing with our guests is singing hymns together. It is a good way to put the focus of your visit on praising the Lord!

   Remember, hospitality isn’t about having the perfect house, or about serving the most elaborate food. Rather, it is a way to serve and bless those around you in a way that brings God glory! May the Lord bless you as you practice being “given to hospitality.”