Showing Hospitality

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 9, 1908

Showing Hospitality

The Bible lays much stress upon the practise of hospitality. Not only does it enjoin hospitality as a duty, but it presents many beautiful pictures of the exercise of this grace and the blessings which it brings. Foremost among these is the experience of Abraham.

In the records of Genesis we see the patriarch at the hot summer noon-tide resting in his tent door under the shadow of the oaks of Mamre. Three travelers are passing near. They make no appeal for hospitality, solicit no favor; but Abraham does not permit them to go on their way unrefreshed.

. . . With his own hands he brought water that they might wash the dust of travel from their feet. He himself selected their food, while they were at rest under the cooling shade. Sarah, his wife, made ready for their entertainment, and Abraham stood respectfully beside them while they partook of his hospitality. This kindness he showed them simply as wayfarers, passing strangers, who might never come his way again. But the entertainment over, his guests stood revealed. He had ministered not only to heavenly angels, but to their glorious Commander,—his Creator, Redeemer, and King. And to Abraham the counsels of heaven were opened, and he was called “the friend of God.”

Lot, Abraham’s nephew, though he had made his home in Sodom, was imbued with the patriarch’s spirit of kindness and hospitality. Seeing at nightfall two strangers at the city gate, and knowing the dangers sure to beset them in that wicked city, Lot insisted on bringing them to his home. To the peril that might result to himself and his household he gave no thought. It was a part of his life-work to protect the imperiled and to care for the homeless, and the deed performed in kindness to two unknown travelers brought angels to his home. Those whom he sought to protect, protected him. At nightfall he had led them for safety to his door; at the dawn they led him and his household forth in safety from the gate of the doomed city.

These acts of courtesy God thought of sufficient importance to record in his Word; and more than a thousand years later they were referred to by an inspired apostle: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Heb. 13:2.

The privilege granted Abraham and Lot is not denied to us. By showing hospitality to God’s children we, too, may receive his angels into our dwellings. Even in our day, angels in human form enter the homes of men, and are entertained by them. And Christians who live in the light of God’s countenance are always accompanied by unseen angels, and these holy beings leave behind them a blessing in our homes. . . .

These admonitions have been strangely neglected. Even among those who profess to be Christians, true hospitality is little exercised. Among our own people the opportunity of showing hospitality is not regarded as it should be, as a privilege and blessing. There is altogether too little sociability, too little of a disposition to make room for two or three more at the family board, without embarrassment or parade. Some plead that “it is too much trouble.” It would not be if you would say, “We have made no special preparation, but you are welcome to what we have.” By the unexpected guest a welcome is appreciated far more than is the most elaborate preparation.

It is a denial of Christ to make preparation for visitors which requires time that rightly belongs to the Lord. In this we commit robbery of God. And we wrong others as well. In preparing an elaborate entertainment, many deprive their own families of needed attention, and their example leads others to follow the same course.

Needless worries and burdens are created by the desire to make a display in entertaining visitors. In order to prepare a great variety for the table, the housewife overworks; because of the many dishes prepared, the guests overeat; and disease and suffering, from overwork on the one hand and overeating on the other, is the result. These elaborate feasts are a burden and an injury. . . .

God is displeased with the selfish interest so often manifested for “me and my family.” Every family that cherishes this spirit needs to be converted by the pure principles exemplified in the life of Christ. Those who shut themselves up within themselves, who are unwilling to be drawn upon to entertain visitors, lose many blessings. . . .

Those who travel from place to place as evangelists or missionaries in any line, should receive hospitality from the members of the churches among whom they may labor. Brethren and sisters, make a home for these workers, even if it be at considerable personal sacrifice.

Christ keeps an account of every expense incurred in entertaining for his sake. He supplies all that is necessary for this work. Those who for Christ’s sake entertain their brethren, doing their best to make the visit profitable, both to their guests and to themselves, are recorded in heaven as worthy of special blessings.

Christ has given in his own life a lesson of hospitality. When surrounded by the hungry multitude beside the sea, he did not send them unrefreshed to their homes. He said to his disciples, “Give ye them to eat.” Matt. 14:16. And by an act of creative power he supplied food sufficient to satisfy their need. Yet how simple was the food provided! There were no luxuries. He who had all the resources of heaven at his command could have spread for the people a rich repast. But he supplied only that which would suffice for their need, that which was the daily food of the fisher folk about the sea. . . .

And while he fed them with the barley loaves, he gave them also to eat of the bread of life. Here is our example. Our fare may be plain, and even scanty. Our lot may be shut in with poverty. Our resources may be no greater than were those of the disciples with the five loaves and the two fishes. Yet as we come in contact with those in need, Christ bids us, “Give ye them to eat.” We are to impart of that which we have; and as we give, Christ will see that our lack is supplied. . . .

To his faithful servants to-day as well as to his first disciples Christ’s words apply, “He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.” No act of kindness done in his name will fail to be recognized and rewarded. And in the same tender recognition Christ includes even the feeblest and lowliest of the family of God. “Whosoever shall give to drink,” he says, “unto one of these little ones,”—those who are as children in their faith and their knowledge of

Christ,—“a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.”

Poverty need not shut us out from showing hospitality. We are to impart what we have. There are those who struggle for a livelihood, and who have great difficulty in making their income meet their necessities; but they love Jesus in the person of his saints, and are ready to show hospitality to believers and unbelievers, trying to make their visits profitable. At the family board and the family altar the guests are made welcome. The season of prayer makes its impression on those who receive entertainment, and even one visit may mean the saving of a soul from death. For this work the Lord makes a reckoning, saying, “I will repay.”

Brethren and sisters, invite to your homes those who are in need of entertainment and kindly attention. Make no parade, but as you see their necessity, take them in, and show them genuine Christian hospitality. There are precious privileges in social intercourse.

“Man doth not live by bread alone,” and as we impart to others our temporal food, so we are to impart hope and courage and Christlike love. We are to “comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” 2 Cor. 1:4. And the assurance is ours, “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.”

We are in a world of sin and temptation; all around us are souls perishing out of Christ; and God wants us to labor for them in every way possible. If you have a pleasant home, invite to it the youth who have no home, those who are in need of help, who long for sympathy and kind words, for respect and courtesy. If you desire to bring them to Christ, you must show your love and respect for them as the purchase of his blood.

In the providence of God we are associated with those who are inexperienced, with many who need pity and compassion. They need succor; for they are weak. Young men need help. In the strength of Him whose loving-kindness is exercised toward the helpless, the ignorant, and those counted as the least of his little ones, we must labor for their future welfare, for the shaping of Christian character. The very ones who need help the most will at times try our patience sorely. “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones,” Christ says; “for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 18:10. And to those who minister to these souls, the Saviour declares, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matt. 25:40.

The brows of those who do this work will wear the crown of sacrifice. But they will receive their reward. In heaven we shall see the youth whom we helped, those whom we invited to our homes, whom we led from temptation. We shall see their faces reflecting the radiance of the glory of God. “They shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.” Rev. 22:4.—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VI.