A Walk Through The Home: “The Guest Room” - Hospitality

A Walk Through The Home: “The Guest Room” - Hospitality

  “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” (, ESV)  

What is hospitality?

The sense of "charitable institution to house and maintain the needy" in English is from early 15c.; meaning "institution for sick or wounded people" — From the Latin Hospitale or “guest house”.

English “Hospital” - "institution for sick or wounded people"Greek Word - Philoxenia, or Love for strangers. (Philo = love, Xenia = stranger)

From CBMW:

On the meaning of hospitality: “Hospitality is not about the provider. It is not about showing how creative, innovative, organized, proficient and gifted one is. Instead, it is about selflessly sacrificing one’s time, efforts, and some degree of finances. It is about taking the risk to let your guard down and invite people to get to know you beyond a superficial level. It is about abandoning the sinful tendency to be self-absorbed and instead seek to do whatever is necessary to meet needs. Hospitality is to be equated with selfless caring for others.”

Why Is Hospitality Important?

God is hospitable - If hospitality is love for strangers (even wounded people), then isn’t it true that God is hospitable to us?   “remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (, ESV)  

Hospitality isn’t simply an obligation to do something; it’s an obligation to be something. We need to be practice philoxenia (love for strangers), but we need to become philoxenos (lovers of strangers). God is interested in us becoming like him, not merely performing tasks. The Christian life is about being redeemed by God and being made to live like God and reflect the way he loves. Often we can manipulate God’s commands by obeying them without proper motive. (Ice Cream Illustration:) Take hospitality as an example: You could be hospitable like an ice-cream shop. They give out free samples, but it’s not out of the kindness of their heart. The employees are just doing their job - it’s what they are supposed to do. If you stand around too long and don’t make a decision then they’re going to ask you to leave. We don’t want that. We don’t want to be generous to people because they are useful, we want to be generous because God is making us into generous people. We give out the samples and the whole cone for free because we love people - this isn’t a business.

In his book Outlive Your Life, Max Lucado writes:

“Long before the church had pulpits and baptisteries, she had kitchens and dinner tables. Even a casual reading of the New Testament unveils the house as the primary tool of the church. The primary gathering place of the church was the home. The early church (with its varied backgrounds got along) without the aid of sanctuaries, church buildings, clergy, or seminaries. They did so through the clearest of messages (the Cross) and the simplest of tools (the home).

Something holy happens around a dinner table that will never happen in a sanctuary. In a church auditorium you see the backs of heads. Around the table you see the expressions on faces. Church services are on the clock. Around the table there is time to talk. When you open your door to someone, you are sending this message: ‘You matter to me and to God.’ You may think you are saying, ‘Come over for a visit.’ But what your guest hears is, ‘I am worth the effort.’”

Strategic Hospitality:

Old Testament Hospitality

- Love your neighbor as yourself. God adopts the nation of Israel

New Testament Hospitality

Jesus is called a drunkard and a glutton - :19T he early Church uses their homes to care for the needs of people. They flip the Roman world upside down. This is still happening all over the world. (Sometimes it stalls out when Church becomes a program/event).

What does it really mean to love our neighbors?

Exegetical Section:

 “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” ()

Outdo one another with honor. Seek to show hospitality. Pursue it. Not just on special occasions.

says, "Above all hold unfailing your love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. Practice hospitality ungrudgingly to one another.”

Ungrudgingly: Hospitality is tough. It’s dirty. It takes money. It takes effort. It takes planning. People are difficult. But God is interested in making us into new people, not just getting us to do new things. -- The truth is that obedience often is the path to desire. The more you obey the more you change into a different type of person.

Illustration from John Piper:

“The physical force of gravity pulls everything to the center of the earth. In order to break free from earth-centered life, thousands and thousands of pounds of energy have to push the space shuttle away from the center. There is also a psychological force of gravity that constantly pulls our thoughts and affections and physical actions inward toward the center of our own selves and our own homes.

Therefore the most natural thing in the world is to neglect hospitality. It is the path of least resistance. All we have to do is yield to the natural gravity of our self-centered life, and the result will be a life so full of self that there is no room for hospitality. We will forget about it. And we will neglect it. So the Bible bluntly says, "Stop that!" Build a launching pad. Fill up your boosters. And blast out of your self-oriented routine. Stop neglecting hospitality. Practice hospitality.”

  “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (, ESV)

Without Grumbling For God’s glory

 “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (, ESV)

Not reluctantly, but cheefully  

  “shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;” (, ESV)

  “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” (, ESV)  

  “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” (, ESV)  

  “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”” (, ESV)  

List of Practical Hospitality Tips:

Stock up on paper platesIf it’s hard to keep a clean house, take someone out to dinner.Buy some yard games: Corn-hole, horse shoes, etc.Make a plan: If Saturday is the day that the yard gets trimmed and the house gets cleaned, then use that pattern to make hosting easy - maybe Sundays for lunch. Stick a gallon of ice-cream in your freezerHave coffee materialsCommit: Chelsea and I committed to dinner once a week with our neighbors, and we’re coming up on 2 years. We have praised God so much for the incredible gift that it has been. The scriptures are true that it is better to give than to receive. Buy a grill - Hot dogs are cheapFrozen pizzasSee bulletin for more

Possibly for Communion? :

Our King has invited us to dine at his table as royal sons and daughters. Consider this reality: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (). Nothing snubs an enemy and declares, “We are untouchable!” like sitting down to dinner in the middle of a war.”

“It has been Christ’s plan since the beginning of the church to advance his kingdom through dinner tables.”

(From: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/hospitality-is-war)

In his book Outlive Your Life, Max Lucado writes:

“Long before the church had pulpits and baptisteries, she had kitchens and dinner tables. Even a casual reading of the New Testament unveils the house as the primary tool of the church. The primary gathering place of the church was the home. The early church (with its varied backgrounds got along) without the aid of sanctuaries, church buildings, clergy, or seminaries. They did so through the clearest of messages (the Cross) and the simplest of tools (the home).

Something holy happens around a dinner table that will never happen in a sanctuary. In a church auditorium you see the backs of heads. Around the table you see the expressions on faces. Church services are on the clock. Around the table there is time to talk. When you open your door to someone, you are sending this message: ‘You matter to me and to God.’ You may think you are saying, ‘Come over for a visit.’ But what your guest hears is, ‘I am worth the effort.’”

Hospitality - having people over - is not the gospel

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

9 d“When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. 10 And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.

11 e“You shall not steal; fyou shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another. 12 gYou shall not swear by my name falsely, and so hprofane the name of your God: I am the Lord.

13 i“You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. jThe wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning. 14 kYou shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall lfear your God: I am the Lord.

15 m“You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. 16 nYou shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not ostand up against the life1 of your neighbor: I am the Lord.

17 p“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but qyou shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you rincur sin because of him. 18 sYou shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but tyou shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord

Notes:

See if Lewis has any quotes on hospitality. FOR WE ALL WISH TO BE JUDGED BY OUR PEERS, BY THE MEN “AFTER OUR OWN HEART.” ONLY THEY REALLY KNOW OUR MIND AND ONLY THEY JUDGE IT BY STANDARDS WE FULLY ACKNOWLEDGE. THEIRS IS THE PRAISE WE REALLY COVET AND THE BLAME WE REALLY DREAD. THE LITTLE POCKETS OF EARLY CHRISTIANS SURVIVED BECAUSE THEY CARED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE LOVE OF “THE BRETHREN” AND STOPPED THEIR EARS TO THE OPINION OF THE PAGAN SOCIETY ALL ROUND THEM. (The Four Loves)Look for other good quotes, too.

From: CBMW

How sobering it is to realize that the obedience of the early church to this simple command had amazing results.( From: https://cbmw.org/series/hospitality-matters/hospitality-matters-the-true-purpose-of-hospitality/)The message needs to be proclaimed loud and clear that there is no singular method used to practice it. Misconceptions abound regarding what it truly entails. Many women who multi-task and brilliantly handle complicated issues seem to fall prey to intimidation when it comes to this topic. Others somehow see it as beneath their level of importance and mentally relegate it to those who like to wear aprons and bake cookies. Is it not paradoxical that the mentality exists where hospitality management is a worthy profession but hospitality at home is for the simple or old fashioned? Satan loves both of these mindsets since the end result means that hospitality is not practiced and opportunities are overtly missed.On the meaning of hospitality: Hospitality is not about the provider. It is not about showing how creative, innovative, organized, proficient and gifted one is. Instead, it is about selflessly sacrificing one’s time, efforts, and some degree of finances. It is about taking the risk to let your guard down and invite people to get to know you beyond a superficial level. It is about abandoning the sinful tendency to be self-absorbed and instead seek to do whatever is necessary to meet needs.Hospitality is to be equated with selfless caring for others.

C.S. Lewis:

It may be possible for each to think too much of his own potential glory hereafter; it is hardly possible for him to think too often or too deeply about that of his neighbor.

The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbor’s glory should be laid daily on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken.

It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare.

All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations.

It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics.

There are no ordinary people.

You have never talked to a mere mortal.

Nations, cultures, arts, civilization—these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat.

But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit—immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.

This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn.

We must play.

But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously—no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption.

And our charity must be real and costly love, with deep feeling for the sins in spite of which we love the sinner—no mere tolerance or indulgence which parodies love as flippancy parodies merriment.

Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.

—The Weight of Glory (HarperOne, 2001), pp. 45-46.

From Desiring God:

says, "Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality." Literally it says, "Pursue hospitality." And the verb implies continuous action. So the command in is that hospitality not just be a once a year thing at Thanksgiving or Christmas, but a constant attitude and practice. Our homes and apartments should stand constantly ready for strategic hospitality—a readiness to welcome people who don't ordinarily live there

A Command to Be a Certain Kind of Person

says, "Above all hold unfailing your love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. Practice hospitality ungrudgingly to one another."

Ungrudgingly! That means, be the kind of people who do it and like to do it! In other words the command to be hospitable is not just a command to do something. It is not just a command that can be legalistically fulfilled with a quota of guests. It is a command to be a certain kind of person, namely, the kind that doesn't resent having to be hospitable. The kind of person who doesn't look at the extra dishes and bedding and bother—and grumble. "Practice hospitality ungrudgingly to one another." Without murmuring. As the next verse (4:10) implies, let your hospitality be an extension or an overflow of God's hospitality to you. Be a good steward of God's grace.

The physical force of gravity pulls everything to the center of the earth. In order to break free from earth-centered life, thousands and thousands of pounds of energy have to push the space shuttle away from the center. There is also a psychological force of gravity that constantly pulls our thoughts and affections and physical actions inward toward the center of our own selves and our own homes.

Therefore the most natural thing in the world is to neglect hospitality. It is the path of least resistance. All we have to do is yield to the natural gravity of our self-centered life, and the result will be a life so full of self that there is no room for hospitality. We will forget about it. And we will neglect it. So the Bible bluntly says, "Stop that!" Build a launching pad. Fill up your boosters. And blast out of your self-oriented routine. Stop neglecting hospitality. Practice hospitality.

Grace is the hospitality of God to welcome sinners not because of their goodness but because of his glory. If God chose not to magnify the glory of his own self-sufficiency, and instead to enrich himself by looking for talented and virtuous housemates, there would be no grace in the world, and no hospitality, and no salvation. We owe our eternal life to grace, and grace is God's disposition to glorify his freedom and power and wealth by showing hospitality to sinners

(From: https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/strategic-hospitality)

Possibly for Communion? :

Our King has invited us to dine at his table as royal sons and daughters. Consider this reality: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (). Nothing snubs an enemy and declares, “We are untouchable!” like sitting down to dinner in the middle of a war.”

“It has been Christ’s plan since the beginning of the church to advance his kingdom through dinner tables.”

(From: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/hospitality-is-war)

Quotes From Doug Wilson’s ‘My Life For Yours’:

Hospitality, where it is still practiced in the church, is largely an unstudied virtue. The demands of modernity and the frenetic pace of life around us dictate that we neglect our responsibility to have our brothers and sisters into our homes. Nevertheless, the Bible is very plain in requiring us to he disciplined in our pursuit of "company," and includes a requirement of hospitality in the leaders of the church (). This is not because it's their task alone but rather because a pattern or example should he set by them for the whole church.

Douglas Wilson. My Life for Yours: A Walk Though the Christian Home (Kindle Locations 838-841). Kindle Edition. 

I have located our discussion of this important aspect of biblical living in the home under the heading of the "guest room," even though much biblical hospitality doesn't necessarily involve overnight guests. But whether guests are staying overnight, coming to dinner, or just dropping by for coffee, the biblical principles remain the same.

Douglas Wilson. My Life for Yours: A Walk Though the Christian Home (Kindle Locations 844-846). Kindle Edition. 

In , the saints are told to pursue hospitality, to chase down potential guests in the parking lot. Far more is involved in this than a simple willingness to have company over-Paul is saying that we must make it happen.

Douglas Wilson. My Life for Yours: A Walk Though the Christian Home (Kindle Locations 846-848). Kindle Edition. 

The context of hospitality is to be love-fervent love. The word for fervent does not refer to a fever pitch of emotional enthusiasm but rather to constant and continual exertion as an athlete running a race. A Christian people are to be dedicated to this. They are to think about how to use their house as an instrument that will enable them to pursue hospitality in a strenuous way.

Douglas Wilson. My Life for Yours: A Walk Though the Christian Home (Kindle Locations 851-853). Kindle Edition. 

The Bible says that love covers a multitude of sins. This is good because hospitality frequently uncovers a multitude of them. "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging" (). Peter tells us to be hospitable without begrudging it, without grumbling because God loves a cheerful giver. If you share your home with a bad attitude, you have the worst of every situation-no treasure in heaven and a lousy evening to boot!

Douglas Wilson. My Life for Yours: A Walk Though the Christian Home (Kindle Locations 853-856). Kindle Edition.