“Contribute to the needs of God’s people [sharing in the necessities of the saints]; pursue the practice of hospitality.” Romans 12:13
Not only are we to share in helping meet the needs of the believers within our local church, we are called to be hospitable. Again, Paul is not offering a suggestion for the super-spiritual. He simply articulates how every member of the body should participate in service to one another with respect to what God has entrusted to each one. As John Piper describes it, we are to be “a certain kind of person.” As I mentioned last month, for us, that “certain kind of person” is a generous and hospitable woman of God.
We looked intently at how we become more generous in September. Four components were outlined that I believe are required to move us closer on our journey. This month we will use the same components for becoming more hospitable women of God.
Pursuing Hospitality
“…pursue the practice of hospitality”
Frankly, you and I may be tempted to view this call to hospitality as—a lesser Christian endeavor. However, when you look across Scripture, the call to demonstrate hospitality holds a prominent place.
- Job lists his hospitality as part of his protests about his situation—saying that his commitment to righteous living is evidenced through showing hospitality to travelers and strangers (Job 31:32).
- 1 Timothy 3:1-7 – describes the qualifications for an elder. Just before the requirement to have the ability to teach is the requirement for being hospitable.
- 1 Peter 4:8-9 – calls us to practice hospitality ungrudgingly toward one another.
- Hebrews 13:1-2 – warns us not to neglect to show hospitality to strangers because some have entertained angels unknowingly (referring to Abraham and his encounter).
Our Romans passage calls us to “pursue the practice.” This verb “pursue” gives the picture of continuous action. It is not a yearly opening of your best china for family and friends at Thanksgiving – but a constant attitude and readiness for action toward anyone who does not belong at your home.
How then, do we become women who pursue the practice of hospitality?
Calls for a Paradigm Shift
The command to be hospitable follows the appeal by Paul to give your whole bodies as living sacrifices. It follows his directive to think and act out of a renewed mind – which is a transformational way of thinking and approaching life. The call to hospitality flows out of our coming together as many different parts of the body of Christ, mutually dependent on one another for His glory. It goes beyond our individual spiritual gifting to the essence of how Christianity should be practiced.
Hospitality is not about us.
Demands Prayer
If we were honest, our focus, too often, is squarely on our own agendas, and well…us. We don’t have time for hospitality. Some of us don’t even want to have time for it. What a hassle! There are too many things we want to do more than extend ourselves to serve others in our homes. Or we are guilty of Tim Chester’s assessment: our efforts to be hospitable toward others is really more about impressing others rather than serving others.
You and I should pray for God to shape our hearts and minds toward genuine hospitality: serving others in our homes. Look at Hebrews 13:1-2.
Let love for your fellow believers continue and be a fixed practice with you [never let it fail]. Do not forget or neglect or refuse to extend hospitality to strangers [in the brotherhood—being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously],
Here we have the nuts and bolts of what we should pray for ourselves when it comes to becoming “that kind of person” – one whose fixed practice is that of friendly, gracious, and generous hospitality. May we “not forget or neglect or refuse to extend hospitality in the brotherhood.”
Requires Eyes that See
We cannot do what we do not see. Are we looking for opportunities to bring others into our homes? Do we think about who might need our hospitality? Are we pursuing? Are we sensitive to those around us?
Compels Hands to Work
What if you and I decisively planned to show hospitality? What if we made preparations for hosting extra people? Could we easily plop a couple of extra pieces of chicken into the crock-pot? Could we buy a second package of rolls? Or maybe keep easy meals in the freezer? Or just plan to order pizza?
What if we created a “stash away zone” for our not-so-“company-ready” moments, designating a bin or area where we sweep through our living space, grabbing anything that does not belong, tossing it there? If we put our minds to it, planning to be more hospitable could be the first step toward becoming the kind of person who practices genuine hospitality.
I assure you there is a need for hospitality—the simple act of inviting into your home those who do not normally belong there. And the need is right where you are. May we get beyond ourselves, our focus on our own family, and our need to be impressive--and onto the business of being “that kind of person.”
Cheri
