“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (1 Peter 4:9 ESV)

Hospitality is one of the most important graces of the Christian life. The Greek word for hospitality is a combination of two words: philo, which mean love, and xena, which means stranger. 

Hospitality, therefore, is basically a love for the stranger. Although the Greek word that is translated as hospitality appears only about six times in the New Testament, the idea permeates the Scriptures.

Showing and seeking hospitality

In his letter to the Christians in Rome, Paul urges his readers to “contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality”. (Romans 12:13) 

The writer of Hebrews exhorts the Jewish-Christian community with these words: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2)

When these two passages are juxtaposed in this way, several important truths about hospitality emerge.

Firstly, showing hospitality is not an optional extra for Christians, something they do when they have time to spare. It is part and parcel of the Christian life.

Secondly, the Christian must not only extend hospitality to members of the Christian community, but to strangers also.

The theme of hospitality is not only found in the New Testament.

God’s ancient people were also commanded to practise hospitality. In Leviticus, God instructed Israel to “treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:33-34)

Transformative love

Jesus is the example par excellence of generous hospitality.

The One who “has nowhere to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20) received children, fed the multitude, ate with sinners, and prepared breakfast for His disciples.

In practising hospitality, the Christian is simply following his Lord and obeying His command to love his neighbour (Mark 12:31; Leviticus 19:18).

Agapic love is the motivation behind Christian hospitality, the energy that drives it; agape is that uncommon love which sets no conditions and which does not discriminate.

The practice of hospitality is truly transformative. It enables us to see others in the way that we have never seen them before.

The practice of hospitality can therefore cure our spiritual astigmatism and open our eyes to see the other for who he truly is – as the bearer of God’s image, as the person for whom the Son of God died on the Cross, and as someone whom God loves unconditionally.

Seeing ourselves truthfully

But the practice of hospitality is also transformative in another sense. 

It also enables us to see ourselves more truthfully. It forces us to be honest with ourselves. It reveals our lamentable disinterest in our neighbours, our reluctance to reach out to them, and our unwillingness to serve our fellow human beings.

It reveals our chronic fear of becoming too exposed to the world. It brings us out of our comfort zone, and makes us feel insecure and vulnerable. In practising hospitality, we often risk putting our lives and our hearts on display. 

But it is precisely because it forces us to confront the truth about ourselves that the practice of hospitality presents an opportunity for us to grow spiritually.

By making manifest our carefully-camouflaged selfishness, ambition and pride, it brings us to the place where self-awareness can lead to repentance, renewal and maturity.

In this way, the practice of hospitality becomes the means of grace by which the Christian can be incrementally transformed into the likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve. (Matthew 20:28)

Pray

Lord Jesus Christ, You welcomed all who came to You into Your presence.

Grant me that grace to welcome others – my brother and sister-in-Christ, my family and friends, the stranger – with the love that does not set conditions and which does not discriminate. Amen.

Ponder

1. Why should the Christian practise hospitality?

2. What are some obstacles that you personally face in practising hospitality?

3. What are some practical ways in which you can begin to exercise the ministry of hospitality?

This devotion was first published in “Dwell: An Invitation to Rest, Reflect and Renew” by Blue Mountain Kelong (www.bluemountainkelong.com), and is republished with permission.

The devotional book, which includes 25 reflections on Creation, Hospitality, Rest and Mission by such Christian leaders as Dr Tan Lai Yong, Leow Wen Pin and Rev Dr Keith Lai, goes towards the mission of Blue Mountain Kelong Social Enterprise, which “inspires and empowers coastal communities through education, medical and holistic care”.

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