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Hospitality
By: Nita Hammersmith
Remember
the story of Cinderella? She was a peasant girl enslaved by her
stepmother and stepsisters. The prince was having a ball and he
invited everyone in the kingdom. Cinderella wasn't allowed to
go, but when her step relatives had gone to the ball her fairy
godmother magically transported her and all her little animal
friends to the ball. The prince was very charming and
entertained all of his guests. As young girls we all dreamed of
the day we could be swept away magically by our prince charming
and live in a wonderful house and have wonderful parties. Well,
what is stopping us? Having parties is what hospitality is all
about. Entertaining guests by dining is what we do when we are
hospitable.
The early church entertained each other often. It was normal to
invite Jesus, the apostles, and visiting ministers home for
dinner. We all remember the wedding feast where Jesus performed
his first miracle that was entertaining in the grandest form.
The disciples reclined around the table and had many meals
together. During Jesus’ travels there were many women who
attended to the needs of Jesus and his apostles. Entertaining
people and being hospitable was not anything new.
In Genesis 18:1-8 it says, "The Lord appeared to Abraham
near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the
entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up
and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried
from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the
ground. He said, ‘If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord,
do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and
then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me
get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on
your way __now that you have come to your servant.’ ‘Very
well,’ they answered, ‘do as you say.’ So Abraham hurried
into the tent to Sarah. ‘Quick,’ he said, ‘get three seahs
of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread.’ Then he ran
to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a
servant, who hurried to prepare it. He then brought some curds
and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these
before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a
tree." We should do the same for anyone that comes to visit
us, but especially to our Christian brothers and sisters.
Hebrews 13:1-2 tells us, "Keep on loving each other as
brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing
some people have entertained angels without knowing it."
Most of us have forgotten how to be kind to one another.
My mother always had a cake baked or something sweet on hand and
would invite the minister along with anyone else who wanted to
come to our house on Sundays after church. She would serve
coffee and tea. Everyone would sit around the table and study
the Bible. I learned so much from my brothers and sisters in
Christ just sitting around the table visiting. There was no
fuss, it was just as if we came home and had snacks. Why don't
we as Christians serve each other this way? Is it that we don't
care? Or have we simply moved away from the things that our
parents taught us? Maybe it is just the way we are, because we
do things that the world has to offer. Things like soccer
practice, kung fu lessons, and band practice. There is nothing
wrong with those things but our focus is on things instead of
God.
What I'm suggesting is that we have become selfish people. We
don't want to spend the time, money, or effort to do what God
would have us to do. We want to do what we want to do; things
that we think will make us better parents. We need to overcome
this weakness. How well are we doing as parents if our
children's souls are lost because they want all the things the
world has to offer? It takes our time, and some effort, to
change our lives so that we help those in the church, but it
doesn't have to cost that much. We all have cookies, milk, and
ice cream around for ourselves. It would be as simple as putting
a little extra in the refrigerator and entertain our friends as
well as ourselves with what we have.
1 Timothy 5:9-10 says, "No widow may be put on the list of
widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her
husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing
up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the
saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all
kinds of good deeds." No one is exempt. Every woman,
meaning every household (men and women alike) should be
practicing being one of good works and hospitality. It is a
wonderful means of spurring each other on to good works, a
wonderful way to learn about the Bible, and a wonderful way that
we help each other get to heaven.
Hospitality demonstrates our faithfulness to God. Throughout the
Bible we will find examples of hospitality. It was demonstrated
by Abraham, Lot, Job, Lydia, Mary, and Martha to name a few. As
Christians we are to emulate, or model after Christ. During His
ministry we know that He practiced hospitality. In all four of
the Gospels we see Jesus serving people as He carried out His
ministry. In Matthew 14: 15-21 Jesus fed people and in verse 21
it says, " The number of those who ate was about five
thousand men besides women and children." So we see that it
was over five thousand people Jesus fed. Jesus refused to send
them away hungry, and that was after he had healed them of their
illnesses. In John 13:2-17 the Bible says, "The evening
meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas
Iscariot, son of Simon to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the
Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come
from God and was returning to God; so he got up form the meal,
took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his
waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to
wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was
wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,
‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus replied, ‘You
do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will
understand.’ ‘No,’ said Peter, ‘you shall never wash my
feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part
with me.’ ‘Then Lord, Simon Peter replied, ‘not just my
feet but my hands and my head as well!’ Jesus answered, ‘A
person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole
body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of
you.’ For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was
why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished
washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his
place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he
asked them. ‘You call me "Teacher" and
"Lord" and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that
I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should
wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you
should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no
servant is greater that his master, nor is a messenger greater
than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you
will be blessed if you do them." God wants us to show by
example our love for one another just as Christ did for his
disciples. Not only by serving one another, but also by showing
hospitality to one another.
How about strangers? Hospitality could be a means for winning
souls to Christ. We can teach Jesus by living our life for Him.
When people see us and experience our genuine love and care for
them they will want to know more about us. They will want to
understand why we are so good, kind, and faithful to God's word.
We don't have to be a Rhodes scholar to show hospitality. It is
as easy as putting dinner on the table for a few friends or a
total stranger. Let us think about how happy we were when we
were day dreaming about our prince charming, Now we have a
prince charming that surpasses them all in Jesus and we should
honor him and the sacrifices he made for us by practicing what
he taught us and show our hospitality to all.
Visit Nita's site at www.nitahammersmith.com
Nita
is interested in receiving feedback regarding this article. If
you would like to comment, please contact her at nita@christianmirror.com
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