The early chapters of Acts gives us a taste of the truly infectious joy, fellowship and “sharing in common” that the believers experienced as the Gospel spread. Acts 2:44 “And all that believed were together and had all things common . . . and they with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God and having favor with all the people . . . “. Luke’s words are almost stumbling over each other as the joy of this time comes bubbling into his record. Everyone always welcome, breaking bread house to house, open arms, open homes, loving fellowship.
As we pause to reflect and to examine ourselves sometimes we can feel a long way from that spiritual high that they shared. So lets ponder for a few minutes our attitude towards true Christlike hospitality. Is it Possible to Capture Some of that Spirit and Hold it?
From the 5 places where the Greek word for hospitality occurs in scripture, we learn that we should practice it towards “strangers” (Heb. 13:1) and also amongst the brotherhood. (I Pet. 4:9,10) “Use hospitality among yourselves without grudging . . . as good stewards.”
But what does the word ‘hospitality’ mean? What does it conjure up in your mind? Is it entertaining friends? Having someone over for a feed and the night? Is it a word that only relates to wives and sisters for it is often their loving hands that prepare beds and meals.
I hope we will discover that this fascinating little word is powerful and describes an attitude of mind that is one of the fundamentals of a Christlike life. True hospitality is not just a series of actions (although it embodies them) It’s a spiritual attitude that can develop in each one of us, young or old, married or single, male or female, house or no house.
The Greek word for hospitality comes from a combination of two words Phi-Lo And Xenos Into Philoxenos. By scratching the surface and discovering how these Greek words are used elsewhere in scripture we can discover the feeling of the power behind words that may be lost in our English translation.
The first part of the word, Philo, or Phileo, is common in the New Testament. It appears for example in 1 Pet. 1:22 “. . . unto the unfeigned love of the brethren.” Philo represents that feeling of warm tender affection. The warm feeling you have when you think of someone very close and special. It is the warm love shared in a happy family. So the first part of the word for hospitality means this warm loving caring feeling. For what ?
It Is Not Natural to Feel Warmly to the Strange
The other part of our word Xenos is translated in 1 Pet. 4 as “strange”! So, hospitality means A Loving Warm Compassionate Feeling For The Strange! It is not natural to feel warmly towards the strange in the same way we feel warmth towards a dear friend. The flesh conditions us to be suspicious and guarded but the spirit of the Word breeds love.
In Matt. 25, Christ’s use of the word “xenos” and our attitude towards strangers is intimately linked with our position at His return. The picture of the judgment seat is introduced with the parable of the talents where the servants are given stewardship of the masters goods to invest wisely. He returns, the wise servants are rewarded, but the lazy servant who did not use his talent the Lord gave him is cast into outer darkness. So, He says, all will fall into one of the two categories. And what is the criterion on which we may “inherit the Kingdom” ? In Matt. 25:35 “For I was an hungered and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty and ye gave me drink: I Was a Stranger (Xenos) and Ye took Me in . . .” So the lack of development of love for the stranger could stand between us and the Kingdom. Hospitality is Not an Option For a Believer!
We don’t need houses to develop true love of the stranger. Sure they are a wonderful asset . . . and responsibility to use wisely in His service. The power behind the word hospitality is first to be aware and sensitive of others and their needs and so wherever we go, whoever we are, our loving helpful concern is a witness to the fact that we have been with Jesus. But people say “you will get used” and sure we may get ‘used’, a life of faith is one in which we become vulnerable, knowing in faith the Lord is in control but at the same time remembering that we must be wise stewards of what we have been given.
What Does It Mean to Stretch Out love?
How do we develop this powerful attitude and make it grow? Back in 1 Pet. 4:8 we are given a very helpful progression or growth pattern which can start and develop in our homes and ecclesias.” . . . And above all things, have fervent love (charity) among yourselves. Fervent comes from a word that means “Outstretched.” Love that stretches out to every individual in every corner. Not just to those among our clique and not only to those we have natural rapport with. What does it mean to have “stretched out charity (self sacrificing love) among yourselves?” It means in part that your love is so deep that no matter what anybody does to you, nothing can change your loving attitude towards them. For even in your grief when you have been hurt by someone your heart goes out to them and you love them more as they wrestle with a burden that the Lord has not placed on you. You still love and esteem them better than you for they carry a load that you don’t have. That’s a life walking in the power of the fruit of the spirit. It is this powerful attitude that strengthened our Lord to say of those mocking below his agony “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Also Stephen to say “Lay not this sin to their charge.”
So in review, as Peter says, our training begins within the family and ecclesia, amongst those we know and grow to love more and more deeply, so that when we come into contact with strangers we are able to give our all, without grudging and muttering. (We must be lovers of hospitality . . . see Tit. 1:8).
Now Peter in 1 Pet. 4:10 links our hospitality with our stewardship. “Minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold Grace of God.” We are stewards of every single thing God has given us. It’s not my car, it’s the Lord’s. It’s not my house or apartment, it’s the Lord’s. It is the Lord’s house that he has entrusted to me to make use of in His service and if we are able to plan a home in the future we will keep in mind the idea of being able to share it and use it to glorify God. Isn’t it wonderful the way Peter so practically sets the stages for good stewardship.
- It starts in the home and ecclesia where it is ‘easiest’ but still takes effort and lifts us into a higher plane than that of natural affection to that of unshakable, self sacrificing love, that stretches out to all.
- He projects this into our dealing with strangers, that helps us develop into positive thinking, living, loving, people of God.
- Then relates it to our stewardship. It is only when we develop this attitude of us being stewards of His with everything that we have that we can truly be useful in His service in every aspect of our being.
It Is a Tragedy to Confuse Hospitality with Entertaining
It is a tragedy that hospitality and ‘entertaining’ are often confused. The ‘entertaining’ that the world teaches through glossy magazines, etc., is a terrible bondage and has little to do with true Christ-like hospitality. Entertaining makes a statement of self. I want to impress you with my beautiful home and gourmet cooking. It puts things before people and makes excuses like “when we get the house painted” or “when we get the yard cleaned up” or “when we can afford to put on a fancy meal” or “when we get the house tidy” we will have people over.
True hospitality puts people before things. We have no furniture, we will eat sitting on the floor! We don’t have much money, we will joyfully feed them what we can afford. The house is a mess but these are people we Love! The beauty and simplicity of true Bible based hospitality (love of the stranger) enables us to make a statement not about ourselves but about our First Love, and enables us to share that message in a spiritual and non-threatening environment that can bear fruit. “Lord, thou deliverest unto me 5 talents: behold I have gained 5 talents more.”
May we each share that joy and singleness of heart of true service and stewardship as we await those words “Well done thou good and faithful servant: Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things, enter thou into the joy of Thy Lord.”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One