Showing the Love of Christ by Hospitality

1 Peter 4:8-9 “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’ Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.”

The early church had the love and closeness of a stable family. In Acts 2, we read that the believers willingly shared their possessions with those in need. They ate food together with gladness and simplicity of heart.

Nowhere did God command the church to provide a meal for believers to use for fellowship. In fact, Paul corrected the church in Corinth:

“What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in?” (1 Corinthians 11:22)

We do not read of New Testament churches building “fellowship halls.” Instead, they shared social fellowship on an individual basis in their homes.

What is Biblical Hospitality?

The New Testament writers urged believers to show hospitality toward one another. The word “hospitality” literally means a “love of strangers.”

Even in the Old Testament, there were laws regulating how to treat strangers. For example:

“He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 10:18-19)

Even before the Law of Moses, Abraham and Lot fed and sheltered strangers (Genesis 18, 19). By doing this, these men entertained angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13:2). From the beginning, hospitality has been a virtue desired by God.

Pursuing Opportunities to Connect

The New Testament urges us to be “given to hospitality” (Romans 12:13). The word translated as “given” literally means to pursue. This means we must actively search for opportunities to welcome others.

We must also recognize that many of our brethren (fellow church members), whom we see week after week, are still strangers to us in many ways. We may not know where they live, what their hobbies are, or what they care about.

When we open our homes and our lives to others, we develop deeper friendships and brotherly love.

Going “house to house” is one of the best ways to develop close relationships. Sharing a meal helps us learn about each other’s needs.

Expanding Your Circle

Hospitality should extend beyond our close circle of friends. It is easy to invite people into our homes whose company we already enjoy, and we should keep doing that.

However, a transformed life extends hospitality beyond close friends. Consider Jesus’ warning:

“For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?” (Matthew 5:46-47)

Jesus also told us not to just invite those who can repay us with a meal, but to invite those who most need it (Luke 14:12-14). Their primary need might not be food, but simple companionship.

The Grace of Receiving

Finally, Christians must be willing to receive hospitality. When someone invites us into their home, we should be thankful and accept if possible.

Some people have a hard time accepting help. But we help other Christians fulfill their duty by allowing them to show love to us.

Whether it is letting someone wash our clothes, mow our lawn, or bring us food when we are sick, we must receive it graciously. Refusing kind offers out of pride stops others from serving. We need to humble ourselves and allow them to serve. In time, we will have opportunities to pay that kindness forward by serving others.