Hospitalitudes

by Pat Ennis

Happy are those…

• who practice biblical hospitality because in so doing they are demonstrating their love for God (1 John 3:17-18).
• who "pursue the love of strangers" for they are choosing to obey their heavenly Father's command and modeling His character (Romans 12:13b).
• in church leadership who practice hospitality for they allow others to observe them in their homes where their character is most graphically revealed (1 Timothy 3:1-2; Titus 1:5-8).
• who include people of all cultures on their guests list for in this manner they are demonstrating the expansive love of their heavenly Father (John 3:16).
• who are willing to make the sacrifice to practice hospitality for they understand that good memories require time and energy to create (Exodus 12:1-14).
• who develop hospitality management skills for in this way they are capable of being faithful stewards of all that our Lord has provided for them (1 Corinthians 4:2).
• who intentionally extend hospitality to "the others"- singles, widows, the grieving, the hospitalized, those with dietary challenges, and those experiencing food insecurity-for they are choosing to live out biblical compassion (James 2:14-16).
• whose homes are both a place of refuge and a center for evangelism for they are glorifying their heavenly Father by their actions (1 Peter 2:11-12) and fulfilling His instructions "to do the work of an evangelist" (2 Timothy 4:5).
• who have consecrated their lives to their heavenly Father for they are then capable of practicing true biblical hospitality (2 Corinthians 4:7).
• who have consecrated their china to their Lord's service for they have the opportunity of helping others to "taste and see that the LORD is good" (Psalm 34:8).
• who do not become disillusioned in practicing biblical hospitality for they understand that in due time they will reap if they do not grow weary (Galatians 6:9).
• who acknowledge that they are unable to practice biblical hospitality in their own strength, for by this means they learn that our Lord's power overcomes their weaknesses and allows them to become vessels used for His honor and glory (2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Philippians 4:13)!

Pat Ennis is professor and establishing chairperson of Home Economics at The Master's College, Santa Clarita, California. She is a contributing author to Think Biblically! Recovering a Christian World © Crossway Publishers and co-author of Becoming a Woman Who Pleases God © 2003 and Designing a Lifestyle that Pleases God, Moody Publishers © 2004 by Pat Ennis and Lisa Tatlock from which this article was adapted with permission.