 Week 27 (02/07/2007)
Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:9-10
Paul, in his epistle to Titus, encouraged being hospitable as one of those marks of a mature Christian that ought to be present in our church leaders. (Titus 1:7-9) Peter, encourages all his eaders to be hospitable, and like Paul, links hospitality with good stewardship of the gifts that God has given us. As we think about the many blessings God has given to His people, let us think about how we best use those blessings for His glory.
Peter bids us to be hospitable without grumbling. Our pride often causes us to feel imposed upon when we are asked to serve others. But hospitality given with a truly humble spirit, without falsehood or pride, is a manifestation of the work of the Spirit of God in the hearts of His people. When we give hospitality we are given the opportunity to touch other lives, promote peace within the church and our families, witness and disciple, encourage those who are labouring in the harvest field for the kingdom, aid those who are suffering, and comfort those in the midst of tests. What a privilege to be used of God in this way.
But...I have a tiny, messy flat, no decent china, too few chairs, no guestroom, too many children, an obnoxious dog, very little free time, and a minuscule food budget!
There are many challenges to providing hospitality, but we must not let them become excuses. A little creative thinking can help us to find solutions to our particular challenges. We also need to examine ourselves to determine if our biggest challenges might not be within our homes, but rather, within our hearts. The focus of hospitality is on our guests, not on our home decor, our ousekeeping, or our china and silver. Setting too high expectations for such things is often a matter of pride.
Focussing on our guests is a good antidote for that problem. After all, will our guests not enjoy themselves unless the ceiling is painted and the carpet matches the wallpaper? Will their meal be ruined if it's served on paper plates? Your guests will remember your conversation and fellowship long after the plates and furniture are forgotten.
We can think outside the box a bit, too, by remembering that having people over for dinner is not the only way to be hospitable. I have some times invited a few people over for an evening of conversation and board games. Others bring the snack and drinks, and have a wonderful time together. A college student can invite a visitor to the campus ministry to meet him or her at a coffee shop for lunch. A mother with small children can invite a few other moms over to bake something together. A person without transportation can be invited to come along on your shopping trips.
In all of these situations a person new to the faith or new to your church may feel more comfortable to ask questions he or she might be uncomfortable asking in cell or on a Sunday. And the better people know each other, the less likely they are to mistrust one another--which adds to the harmony in churches and families.
Give it a go practice hospitaliy
| 
