In our day, hospitality evokes many images … there is the craft of hospitality modeled by people like Martha Stewart, … the social grace of entertaining, … the hospitality industry, …the cultural value characterized as southern hospitality … welcoming new neighbors ….but what about caring for others, like the homeless …?

We need a more fully informed understanding of what is hospitality. The starting point to understanding is in understanding the word itself: it comes from the Latin word, hospes, which originally meant stranger.  Biblically, it first meant the deliberate care provided foreigners and strangers living among God’s people.  Click here for a link to a fuller explanation.

An extreme example is found when Lot welcomes a group of angels (he thought they are men).  When a lusty mob from the town wants to rape them, Lot offers his own daughters to the men instead and pleads, Don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof - Genesis 19:8.  Certainly, Lot’s attitude toward his family needed rethinking but the story leaves us wondering what he valued or understood that we miss?

Theologians refer to the “theology of the stranger” found in the Old Testament.  This view suggests that God has always expected those who knew Him and enjoyed His blessings and favor to deliberately care for outsiders because of the care they received from God and because it accomplished God’s plans from the beginning.  God’s people were to grant them rights and protections, to leave grain behind for the homeless or destitute, etc.

As God’s people, we need to recognize that we are to be hospitable because we have freely received so much from the Lord.  As a church, we need to honor God by loving people in real terms (not just in concept). So, how do we do become more hospitable?  

FIRST … It has a responsibility … the “haves” have a responsibility for the “have nots.”  While it can mean caring for those in crisis or making sure a new person feels welcomed, or telling those without Jesus how they, too, can become family. In case you are wondering - if you are saved and the majority present are like you then you are a “have” with a responsibility to reach out to the “have nots.”   

SECOND – It takes the initiative. So, whether that is a person without friends, finances, or Jesus … you have the responsibility to take the first step to care and receive that person.

THIRD – It expresses compassion … like the love we receive from the Lord.  In Exodus 22:21, God said: Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt. In other words, don’t forget where you’ve been and when you were the new person or the one without.  Love the way you were loved and the way you want to be loved if the tables were turned.

FOURTH – It is considerate, placing the needs of the “have not” before the needs of the “have.”  A group of friends are hospitable to a guest by curbing inside jokes or conversation exclusive to their past experiences together. It treats the “have nots” with respect … we don’t help the homeless because we are better, we do so because they matter to God and we have done without ourselves.  We share the gospel in a way that expresses regard for that person and not with a “you be quiet and I’ll tell you what to think” sort of attitude.

FINALLY – It is mature.  Immaturity asks, “why hasn’t ____ been done for me?”  But, maturity says, “I have so much from the Lord, who does he want me to share that with?”

My prayer for our church is that we would love like we have been loved … especially toward those who have nothing to offer in return.

God bless – see you Sunday,

Pastor Paul