Hospitality Toward One Another

Today we are going to continue in our summer sermon series looking at some of the “one another” commands that we find in Scripture and some practical ways in which we can make changes in our lives in relation to these commands. We talked about encouraging one another, praying for one another, valuing or considering one another, and comforting one another. At the end of each of those messages we ended with several practical steps we might take to improve how we do with these commands in our own lives. We’ve been challenged to let God point out to us how we are doing and what we might do differently as we continue to allow him to transform us. I hope that we all have taken these to heart as we considered how we might be able to work on how we might become more intentional about live life among each other.

As we get started, I have a question for you to think about. What do you think it looks like to show hospitality toward others? What have you done recently to show hospitality?

Merriam-Webster defines hospitality as “hospitable treatment, reception, or disposition” and defines hospitable with these definitions:

1. given to generous and cordial reception of guests

2. promising or suggesting generous and friendly welcome

3. offering a pleasant or sustaining environment

This morning, turn with me to:

1 Peter 4:1–11 NIV

1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit. 7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Traditionally, when the word hospitality gets used in the church, we tend to think of food. Either having people over for a meal or taking someone out for a meal. Sometimes we might this of hospitality as having someone stay the night with us versus in a hotel. But I would suggest that the definition that we find in Scripture goes much further than just food or shelter. It’s a way of life for those that believe in Christ. Consider these thoughts as we consider this idea of hospitality:

Entertainment vs. Hospitality

The entertaining host seeks to elevate herself. And as Martha mentions, it’s a bit selfish. When the guest arrives, the entertainer announces, “Here I am. Come into my beautiful abode and have the honor of partaking of all the wonderful things I’ve spent hours getting done for you. Look at this lavish buffet, the intricate décor, and the wonderful party favors. How fortunate for you to be here and be part of this.”

While I embellish on what a hostess might actually say, we’ve all encountered this attitude once or twice, haven’t we? Maybe we’ve even allowed a similar tone to slip ever so subtly into our own hosting. But when you leave the entertaining host’s house, how do you feel? Remember that, and do the opposite.Hospitality is different. Biblical hospitality offers our best to Him first, understanding that our best to others will then fall into place. It transforms our selfish motives and elevates our guest.

When the hospitable hostess swings wide the door, all her attention focuses outward: “You’re here! I’ve been waiting for you. No one is more important today than you, and I’m thrilled you’ve come.” The posture we assume in hospitality is one that bends low, generously offering our heart to another despite whatever interruption to our own plans or comfort. Extending hospitality is about freely giving of ourselves while granting others the freedom to be themselves. Shifting our focus from us to them removes all unnecessary expectations. No need to worry about what to say or how to act. Just come as you are.

Jen Schmidt, Just Open the Door: How One Invitation Can Change a Generation.

Hospitality is Unnatural

Hospitality, when you get right down to it, is unnatural. It is difficult to place others first, because our inclination is to take care of ourselves first. Hospitality takes courage. It takes a willingness to risk. But as our Lord reminds us, if we only love those who we are sure will love us and welcome those who will welcome us, then we have done little to share the love of God, for as Jesus says, even the heathen do that.

You see, most of us know what true hospitality feels like. It means being received openly, warmly, freely, without any need to prove ourselves. Hospitality makes us feel worthy, because our host assumes we are worthy. This is the kind of hospitality that we have experienced from God, and all that God asks is that we go and do likewise, particularly to “the alien among us.”

Stephen Rhodes, Where the Nations Meet (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1998), p. 135.

Chapter 4 in the NIV has the heading “Living for God.” Before we go any farther with this idea of hospitality, we need to understand a bit of context from the beginning of this passage. As we look at the first verse, we see the phrase “arm yourselves also with the same attitude.” Arming yourself refers to the idea of equipping or arming ourselves with the appropriate weapon or tool. In this case, Peter is referring to equipping ourselves with the same attitude as that of Christ who suffered in his body. This idea of attitude refers to the mental activity of setting one’s moral intention. As believers, we are not just to have good ideas, but we are called to action that has been carefully considered and thought through in light of Christ’s suffering.

We arm ourselves with this same attitude by choosing obedience to Christ, even if it brings suffering or hardship. It is better for us to do right and suffer than to do wrong and not. We are to follow this example of Jesus himself because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. You see, Christ died once for all and those of us who participate in this attitude with Christ and identify in his suffering participate in being done with sin. This attitude ties back to choosing to be obedient to Christ.

When we have the same attitude as that of Christ, we no longer live our lives for human desires but rather for the will of God.

I want us to notice something in verse 4. People will notice when we live this way and arm ourselves with this attitude. It is a drastic enough change that people should be able to see the difference. It is so very contrary to the way of the world around us. This is why it is so important for us to be ready to give an example, an account, of what Christ has done for us. However, we should expect that at times we will see people “heap abuse” on us for our obedience to Christ.

What does this way look like? Let’s look for a moment at the example of Jesus. He ate with sinners throughout His earthly ministry. He received children gladly. He taught us to invite the lowly to parties and to welcome strangers. He prepared breakfast for His wayward disciples, including Peter who had betrayed Him.

Jesus ate with the Emmaus disciples after His resurrection. Before His departure, Jesus said He was going to "prepare a place" for His people. Jesus also instituted the Lord's Supper, giving new meaning to the Passover meal, and told us that He will drink it again with us when "the kingdom of God comes."

Each time Jesus performed a miracle, He gave us a taste of what's coming. In the coming kingdom, there will be no demon-possessed men, no storms to calm, no sicknesses to cure and no tears of the bereaved to wipe.

Jesus' first miracle was at a wedding party. The King gave us a glimpse of the ultimate party to come. Happiness, joy, fellowship and sweet communion with the King awaits His bride.

The promise of enjoying Jesus' glorious kingdom is made possible by His gracious provision.

In Ephesians 2:12, Paul tells us that we were formerly "foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world." but then adds the good news: "But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah."

Christ came out to us, to bring us in to the family, at great sacrifice and cost. Now we enjoy the unspeakable privileges of the King's hospitality.

Picking up in verse 8, the disciplined life that we are to live as followers of Christ is that we are to remain constant in our love for one another. This is a constant and fervent love. When we love others, it covers over a multitude of sins. There are a couple of interpretations on this phrase. First is that God forgives the sins of those who love others. The second is that those who love overlook the sins and wrongs of others. This is what our love should look like friends. When we love one another, the wrongs and offenses that will happen are overlooked and forgotten. Peter’s point is that we overlook the sins of those we love.

With this type of love as a background (see again how this “one another” ties back to love) we see in verse 9 this idea of hospitality to one another without grumbling. This is a practical expression of the mutual love we see in verse 8. Hospitality was highly valued in the New Testament church as we see by the references to having believers fellowship in one another’s homes. Grumbling (which many of us can be good at if we are honest with ourselves) undermines the value of our hospitality, if it doesn’t outright squelch it. Peter refers to our hospitality is that is to be cheerful and ungrudging.

The question that we must ask ourselves is whether or not we're practicing Jesus-like ministry. Many Christians see Jesus as a personal moral example (and rightly so), but not as a social example. But why not? When you become a Christian, your social life, how you interact with others, should change also.

Do you have a reputation for hanging out with shady company for the purpose of showing them grace? Don't get me wrong. I'm not advocating a cavalier spirit, and certainly not condoning sin. But I'm definitely advocating Jesus-like ministry. I remember the day that being seen walking out of the corner bar brought a certain judgement, no matter the reason you were really there. Are we willing to forsake our own reputations for Jesus-like ministry?

Jesus was separated from sin, but never isolated from people. And He definitely wasn't the incarnate killjoy. We see time and again throughout the accounts of Jesus’ ministry that sinners loved being with Jesus. The poor and vulnerable found hope in Him. It was the religious pious that got upset with Him.

Following Jesus includes following His practice of hospitality—joyous, authentic, generous, countercultural and hope-filled hospitality.

When Jesus says, "Come follow me," He isn't calling us to offer a class or start a program, but to follow His way of life. And that way includes opening up our homes and lives to others. But before we'll do this, we must open our hearts to the things and ways of God.

Let’s take a look at a few practical examples as it relates to showing hospitality toward others:

1. Welcome everyone you meet. I mean this literally and figuratively. Extend a kind word to everyone you meet, but also, share your time, energy and life with others—especially those who may need you more than you need them. Jesus welcomed strangers and outcasts (see Luke 19:1-10). In the same way that Zacchaeus was a "son of Abraham" and worthy of Jesus' time, the outcasts that you interact with are loved by God and worthy of your time too.

2. Engage people. Engage others with the mindset of being Jesus, not just inviting them to a function at church (see Romans 12:13-20). Be Jesus to people. This kind of engagement involves a personal connection. I know this is difficult in our current days, but let’s find creative ways to engage with someone. We can do that while physically distancing. Maybe meet at a park where you can connect or maybe at a coffee shop with outdoor seating. Be creative!

3. Make meals a priority. This is one of the things I miss the most right now. Taking someone out for lunch, or meeting for coffee. Many of Jesus' striking moments occurred around meals. Invite a person to a meal and serve him or her. Pay for the meal if possible, pray for your guest specifically and serve him or her. Use mealtimes to build relationships and talk about things that really matter.

4. Pay attention. We all interact with people at work, at church, at school and in our communities. But how many of these people are outcasts that go unnoticed? Take some time out of your day to stop, look around and show kindness to others. Your uplifting word or kind action may change someone's life forever.

5. Volunteer in the community. One of the biggest complaints visitors have when they try out a church is whether or not the people were welcoming and friendly. Christine Hoover shares what she learned from her experiences as a visitor in her article, “What New People at Your Church Want You to Know.” “A warm, welcome, and helpful environment is one of the most essential ingredients for a person to become a follower of Christ and grow and connect within the church,” she said. Even before visitors walk through your church’s doors, you can develop a reputation of hospitality in your community. Let’s find creative ways to serve and connect with our communities.

6. Give a gift. You can even show hospitality as a guest in someone else’s home. Bringing a small token of appreciation not only demonstrates generosity to your hosts, but a little gift for the kids makes them also feel appreciated. A small teddy bear or toy of their choosing can make kids feel loved and special. You can also give a gift when someone comes to your home for dinner. This goes the extra mile in terms of showing your guest they are highly valued, not only in your home but also in your life. 

7. Write a note. A note of encouraging words can go a long way in displaying love to your neighbors. Write a paragraph about all the ways you like living near them. By doing so, you demonstrate love for who they are, rather than what they do. This forges a good relationship with those around you, which may pay off in the future if you find yourself in need of a favor.

8. Offer to babysit. Give a mom and/or dad the time to get her hair cut, go to the grocery store, or take her husband out to lunch. Don’t wait for her to ask for babysitting help. Offer even when there isn’t a specific need, just because it will be a blessing and be a simple way to show hospitality.

9. Talk to (and listen to) a someone who is lonely. Give your ear to someone who needs conversation and fellowship. After my dad passed away, I realized how very quiet the house was for my mom as a widow. Be on the lookout for neighbors or people at church who simply want to chat.  You might gain some needed encouragement and wisdom yourself, too!

Friends, showing hospitality toward others is a natural outflow of our love for God and for others. I want us to remember that as followers of Christ we are to love one another to the point that showing hospitality is a natural outflow of our love for others. There is something mutually beneficial to all of us when we act in this way. As I’ve mentioned several times throughout this series, I hope that you are seeing how all of these “one another” commands that we have been discussing this summer all tie together. They all take us back to the idea of the love that God so freely displays and gives to us and how we are to love others as a result.

Let’s pray.

Benediction: Hospitable God, you invite us to a banquet where the last may be first, and the humble and the mighty trade places. Let us share your abundance with no fear of scarcity; let us greet strangers as angels you have sent. Send your Spirit now so that we may find a place at your table and welcome others with radical hospitality. We pray in the name of the Father, of the Risen Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (https://voxveniae.com/2015/06/liturgy-reflection-benediction-06-14-2015/)

Go in peace friends and live out the calling to love others that God has given us.