Gratitude & Biblical Hospitality
“He who refreshes others
will himself be refreshed.”
Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)
For several months I’ve been working on some talks centered around one important question: “What does the Bible say about…?” So far, the topics addressed include what the Bible has to say about unmet expectations, grief, gratitude, anxiety, and hospitality.
I’ve written a lot through the years about biblical hospitality, especially as it relates to community. Biblical hospitality is one of the many “one another” commands found throughout the New Testament. Mutuality commands are the believer’s “house rules” that describe how to live as a citizen in God’s kingdom. Some of the more familiar mutuality commands include love one another; serve one another; encourage one another; and forgive one another.
Biblical hospitality reaches out to those in need, meets people exactly where they are, and seeks to make them feel welcome, wanted, and worth the trouble. It also provides the gift of place where others are accepted, affirmed, and allowed to grow or grieve.
Entertaining is very different from biblical hospitality. Entertaining is Me-focused: as in my home; my things; my culinary, decorating, or housekeeping skills; my resources. In other words, my pride! Biblical hospitality focuses on others rather than self. It requires us to open our hearts before we open the doors to our homes or churches.
The Bible has quite a lot to say about hospitality. Abraham unknowingly hosted a preincarnate Christ and two angels (Genesis 18). Rahab the prostitute opened her home and boldly gave protection to two spies from Israel (Joshua 2:1). A poor widow at Zarephath gave Elijah food and drink even as famine and drought gripped the land (1 Kings 17:7-16). The Shunamite woman gave the prophet Elisha a room to use whenever he came to town (2 Kings 4:8). Abigail fed David and his four hundred men (1 Samuel 25). Matthew, the tax collector turned disciple, hosted a feast for his colleagues to meet Jesus (Matthew 9:10). Lydia’s home served as home base for the Apostle Paul's ministry team and eventually housed the Philippian church (Acts 16:5).
But biblical hospitality doesn’t need to be limited to just our homes. We can also practice hospitality in our workplaces, churches, neighborhoods, schools, and communities by extending grace and offering a safe place for people to gather. Hospitality is bigger than a house or meal. It certainly may include that, but ultimately, it’s about making a place for someone in your life.
Invitation and inclusion are two essential actions required for practicing hospitality no matter the location. Invitation and inclusion require us to take a risk, get out of our comfort zone, and look beyond ourselves. There are countless ways we can provide biblical hospitality. Not all of them include providing food or opening our homes, but each one requires us to open our hearts.
Sometimes God gives us a real-life example to demonstrate the reality of whatever topic we are trying to teach. Several weeks ago, I received an unexpected lunch invitation from a former co-worker inviting me to her home to celebrate National Pharmacy Week. Honestly, I haven’t celebrated National Pharmacy Week since I retired seven years ago, but I wanted to see my friend and so I accepted her kind invitation.
Her house wasn’t perfect for hosting guests, but neither is her life. This special-needs mom has worked a demanding full-time job for the last 31 years while raising her four children, one of whom has special needs. If anyone had an excuse NOT to invite people into her home, it is my friend. When we arrived, her special needs son and his hospital bed were in her dining room, a reminder that her work is truly full time, both at work and at home. “T’s” focus, however, was on her guests.
For lunch, “T” ordered takeout and invited 15 former coworkers, all now retired. During lunch T told us gratefully, “You are my work family…I stand on your shoulders now as I work.”
For the next two hours we enjoyed a delicious lunch, rich fellowship, “remember when” and “catching up” conversations. Throughout our time together, “T” never stopped smiling. Her hospitality efforts brought her great joy. I left “T’s” house that day refreshed and challenged by both her radical gratitude and hospitality.
She who refreshed others was herself refreshed as she used her time and resources to make us all feel welcome, wanted and worth the trouble. Her gratitude and hospitality combined to bring both blessing and joy.
This Thanksgiving season who would benefit from your gratitude and hospitality?