It calls believers to welcome and care for one another willingly, gladly and generously, with no resentment, reluctance or complaint. It belongs to living ready for the end of all things being at hand, together with being sober and watchful unto prayer and having fervent love that covers a multitude of sins, in expectation of the end and with searching of heart. Such practical care is an expression of fervent love and faithful service, done as good stewards of the gifts and grace God has given. It is the responsibility of all of God's people and not of leaders alone, and welcoming fellow believers and strangers brings blessing. It is a privilege to be enjoyed simply, where an ordinary welcome and meal are enough, since elaborate preparation can rob God, burden the home and harm the guest.
Meaning and Context
Use hospitality one to another without grudging means welcoming and caring for one another willingly, gladly and generously. It is to be done without resentment, reluctance or complaint. This welcome and care is the duty of believers and Christians toward one another.
It belongs to readiness for the end of all things being at hand. Together with it stand being sober and watchful unto prayer, and having fervent love and fervent charity among yourselves that covers a multitude of sins. It is to be lived in expectation of the end, and it calls for searching of one's own heart.
Such practical care is an expression of fervent love and fervent charity. It is faithful service, and it belongs with serving one another with the gifts God has given as good stewards of His gifts and grace. Each person is to use what God has given to serve others.
It is part of the daily conduct expected of Christians. It is to be practiced in family life as part of a deeper religious experience.
Practicing Hospitality Faithfully
Hospitality without grudging is the duty of the entire church and of all of God's people, not of its leaders alone. It is not to be assigned to a few, nor treated as an extra duty to be paid for, and the willing welcome of fellow believers and of strangers brings blessing. It is to be done without resentment or reluctance, in willing welcome and care for one another. Hospitality is a privilege and a blessing, not a cause for embarrassment or display, so a simple welcome and an ordinary meal are enough. Elaborate preparations can consume time that belongs to God, deprive families of needed attention, burden the hosts, and encourage guests to overeat to their harm.
The verse means entertaining the children of God wherever it seems necessary, begrudging nothing in food or in anything that makes guests comfortable. This work unites people with believers and gives a twofold influence over them by linking interest with humanity. Feeling it a burden because of the dejected attitude of others in the household over constant entertaining is wholly unnecessary and is to be laid down, and to stop entertaining would be a loss greatly to be regretted. Hospitality creates mutual obligation between host and guest, so the one who receives it must not be idle but must repay kindness with thoughtfulness and consideration in conduct. Instead of expecting to be waited on, the guest is to help and to render timely assistance, especially when the host is burdened with care and hard labor, and such helpfulness finds access to the heart and opens the way for truth to be received.
Without grudging also applies to refusing to listen to evil speaking and to being careful how to question and criticize those who are walking in the light. For a leader it means guarding the mind against allowing another person's feelings, impressions and imaginings to shape preaching or to leaven thinking. Listening to evil speaking in this way can disqualify him for his position.
It calls believers to welcome and care for one another willingly, gladly and generously, with no resentment, reluctance or complaint. It belongs to living ready for the end of all things being at hand, together with being sober and watchful unto prayer and having fervent love that covers a multitude of sins, in expectation of the end and with searching of heart. Such practical care is an expression of fervent love and faithful service, done as good stewards of the gifts and grace God has given. It is the responsibility of all of God's people and not of leaders alone, and welcoming fellow believers and strangers brings blessing. It is a privilege to be enjoyed simply, where an ordinary welcome and meal are enough, since elaborate preparation can rob God, burden the home and harm the guest.
Meaning and Context
Use hospitality one to another without grudging means welcoming and caring for one another willingly, gladly and generously. It is to be done without resentment, reluctance or complaint. This welcome and care is the duty of believers and Christians toward one another.
It belongs to readiness for the end of all things being at hand. Together with it stand being sober and watchful unto prayer, and having fervent love and fervent charity among yourselves that covers a multitude of sins. It is to be lived in expectation of the end, and it calls for searching of one's own heart.
Such practical care is an expression of fervent love and fervent charity. It is faithful service, and it belongs with serving one another with the gifts God has given as good stewards of His gifts and grace. Each person is to use what God has given to serve others.
It is part of the daily conduct expected of Christians. It is to be practiced in family life as part of a deeper religious experience.
Practicing Hospitality Faithfully
Hospitality without grudging is the duty of the entire church and of all of God's people, not of its leaders alone. It is not to be assigned to a few, nor treated as an extra duty to be paid for, and the willing welcome of fellow believers and of strangers brings blessing. It is to be done without resentment or reluctance, in willing welcome and care for one another. Hospitality is a privilege and a blessing, not a cause for embarrassment or display, so a simple welcome and an ordinary meal are enough. Elaborate preparations can consume time that belongs to God, deprive families of needed attention, burden the hosts, and encourage guests to overeat to their harm.
The verse means entertaining the children of God wherever it seems necessary, begrudging nothing in food or in anything that makes guests comfortable. This work unites people with believers and gives a twofold influence over them by linking interest with humanity. Feeling it a burden because of the dejected attitude of others in the household over constant entertaining is wholly unnecessary and is to be laid down, and to stop entertaining would be a loss greatly to be regretted. Hospitality creates mutual obligation between host and guest, so the one who receives it must not be idle but must repay kindness with thoughtfulness and consideration in conduct. Instead of expecting to be waited on, the guest is to help and to render timely assistance, especially when the host is burdened with care and hard labor, and such helpfulness finds access to the heart and opens the way for truth to be received.
Without grudging also applies to refusing to listen to evil speaking and to being careful how to question and criticize those who are walking in the light. For a leader it means guarding the mind against allowing another person's feelings, impressions and imaginings to shape preaching or to leaven thinking. Listening to evil speaking in this way can disqualify him for his position.