The
house is clean, orderly, and organized and there are fresh cut flowers from the
garden on their table. Candles are lit,
there are no dirty dishes in the kitchen sink and the food served is gourmet
and fabulous. They have three children
all under the age of 5, and a big, hairy (very clean) dog. Everyone looks like they're enjoying
themselves.
This
picture is what our culture esteems as the epitome of
entertaining. It's what you
see in magazines and it serves as a special compartment of the American
Dream. As believers we need to ask
ourselves if this picture taints our understanding of biblical
hospitality. So what is the difference?
The
exhortation in Scripture to be hospitable is allotted to every believer, male
or female, whether or not it is one of our gifts or something we enjoy doing
(See Part I). In the following verse,
notice how it is given along with two other important commands:
Above all, keep loving
one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show
hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of
God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever
serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies -- in order that in
everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ... (1 Peter 4:8-11).
All
three of these commands are parts of the great commandment to love our neighbor
as ourselves. Hospitality is important
to God as we observe it woven throughout all of Scripture (see Jonathan
Leeman's
article for a biblical theology of hospitality) and can infer that the evil one
seeks to twist, distract from, and distort it.
Here
are some observations about entertaining vs. the hospitable heart that we are
to cultivate from God's Word:
Entertaining is fundamentally "me-focused."
It has
the feel of a show and it's heart is impressing other people either visually or
with a meal.
It is
embarrassed if something "goes wrong" or doesn't fit the kind of reputation it
is trying to project or protect.
It is
essentially prideful and hopes to be repaid.
It
carries an air of formality that prohibits spiritual intimacy and fellowship.
It
tends not to associate with the "lowly."
Biblical hospitality is humble.
It
attempts to make people feel comfortable; creating an atmosphere where people
can be themselves, fellowship together,
and where ministry can take place.
It
doesn't seek to hide areas of weakness or flaws - these are assumed.
It
recognizes that the importance of any other person rests in their having been
made in the image of God, not their social status.
It is
servanthood that desires God to receive glory by time spent with others.
It is
open to the needy and doesn't seek repayment.
It
points unbelievers and those who are weak toward the Gospel.
This
differentiation doesn't mean we shouldn't strive to make a great meal or to
clean up our home for others. It just
isn't the focus! Instead of going from
war zone to
Martha Stewart Living the
day before people come over, which can completely de-rail a godly attitude of
hospitality, we should strive to keep our homes somewhat orderly and available
for guests that may come at any time. We
shouldn't be embarrassed if our homes look a little lived in but be thinking
about how we can bless those who come to our door.
Alexander
Strauch says in his book
The Hospitality
Commands,
Hospitality fleshes out love in a uniquely personal and
sacrificial way. Through the ministry of hospitality, we share our most prized
possessions. We share our family, home, finances, food, privacy, and time.
Indeed, we share our very lives. So, hospitality is always costly... Unless we open the doors of our homes to one
another, the reality of the local church as a close-knit family of loving
brothers and sisters is only a theory.
Hospitality
is a discipline to be applied, worked at, and prayed over in our homes as
believers. Sacrificial giving doesn't
come easy to any of us and we need God's grace to stretch us in this area and
help us to serve with humility, thinking more highly of others than ourselves.