1 Peter 4:9(ESV)
Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Hospitality is applied love and a practical application and expression of the biblical command to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Hospitality is the duty of every Christian and should be our way of life. God admonishes His children to be hospitable as part of our duty to others and in gratitude for the salvation, favor, and mercy we have received from Him. It must be without grumbling. In other words, hospitality could amount to pride when it involves grumbling. However, hospitality rendered with a truly humble spirit, without pretense or pride, is a beautiful manifestation of the work of the Spirit of God in the lives of God’s children. Romans 12:13 says, “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” Paul urges us to be ready to help God’s people in need. By mentioning the saints, Paul is emphasizing that our priority should be toward fellow Christians(Gal. 6:10). We become partners in ministry when we lovingly support the saints in practical ways. Being faithful to love others with the resources God has given is all that is required.
As Christians, hospitality is one of the virtues that we must possess. It has its root in God and is one of the marks of a mature Christian. Being hospitable and kindhearted is an indication of the God-nature in us. Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” We should not be forgetful to entertain strangers, for some have entertained angels unawares. Consistently in the Scriptures, angels appeared as normal human beings, dressed in ordinary outfits like everyday people. For instance, in Genesis 18, Abraham would have missed the good news if he had not engaged the two angels and the Lord who appeared in his house as men. Many Christians have missed their blessings because they were not as hospitable as they should have been. That hungry fellow we did not offer food could have been the key to God answering our prayers. We cannot claim to love God while we are hostile to others because our attitude to strangers shows the kind of Christianity we practice. Many of us are hospitable to our guests, which is good, but we can do better.
Beloved, be hospitable, and never limit it to only giving material things. It could be through a word of encouragement or just a smile. See every encounter you have with people as an opportunity to show forth the love of God. Seek to show God’s love whenever possible. Don’t hesitate to help strangers and treat them as well as you would if you knew them, but do so without naivety and pride. You should never be rude or unaccommodating because God expects you to be hospitable to anyone you come across. Be kind to everyone because you never know who you have encountered, what blessing they have in store, or what you can give them. As you practice hospitality, the liberating power of God will make you a new and radically different kind. Love your neighbor and let them know they matter. Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not neglect to do good and share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. I pray that you will yield yourself as an instrument of spreading God’s love everywhere through hospitality in Jesus’ Name.
O Lord, thank You for Your Word, guide me to show hospitality in a way that will show others Your love in Jesus’ Name.