Nine years ago I took a spiritual gifting test....and yesterday I retook it to see how things have evolved for me and my gifting over the years. What I found was not surprise to me...My number one gifting was tied between hospitality and prophecy. We will dive into prophecy another day. It is extremely beneficial to know what your gifted in. For me...administration and evangelism were at the bottom of my list! I love to plan big events...but if I don't have a detailed person along side me helping me to get everything done...I will leave everything until the last minute and destroy my family in the wake of frantic rantings to get the job done.
For the first time I thought to myself....self....if this is your number 1 gifting...than you should be looking in the Bible to see what it has to say about hospitality. Did you know hospitality is in the Bible? I have compiled a list given from my Bible (The Life Application Study bible, New King James Version, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc) In regular print you will read the scripture...in bold print you will read what the study notes in my Bible have to say to support the verse. It has really opened my eyes to evaluating how...why...when...and even who...I am inviting into my home.
Hospitality according to the Bible
Genesis 18: 2-5
So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold three men were
standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them,
and bowed himself to the ground, and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor
in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. Please let a little water be
brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will
bring a morel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After you may pass
by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.” They said, “Do as you have
said.”
Abraham was eager to
show hospitality to these three visitors, as was Lot. In Abraham’s day, a
person’s reputation was largely connected to his hospitality—the sharing of
home and food. Even strangers were to be treated as highly honored guests.
Meeting another’s need for food or shelter was and still is one of the most
immediate and practical ways to obey God. It is also a time-honored
relationship builder. Hebrews 13:2 suggests that we like Abraham, might
actually entertain angels. This thought should be on our minds the next time we
have the opportunity to meet a stranger’s needs.
Luke 10:7-8
And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such
things as they give, for the laborer Is worthy of his wages. Do not go from
house to house. (8)Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such
things as are set before you. (9) And heal the sick there, and say to them, The
kingdom of God has come near to you.
Jesus’ direction to
stay in one house avoided certain problems. Shifting from house to house could
offend the families who first took them in. Some families might begin to
compete for the disciples’ presence, and some might think they weren’t good
enough to hear their message. If the disciples appeared not to appreciate the
hospitality offered them, the town might not accept Jesus when he followed them
there. In addition, by staying in one place, the disciples did not have to
worry continually about getting good accommodations. They could settle down and
do their appointed task.
Jesus told his disciples
to accept hospitality graciously because their work entitled them to it.
Ministers of the gospel deserve to be supported, and it is our responsibility
to make sure they have what they need. There are several ways to encourage
those who serve God in his church. First see that they have an adequate salary.
Second, see that they are supported emotionally; plan a time to express appreciation
for something they have done. Third, life their spirits with special surprises
from time to time. Our ministers deserve to know we are giving to them
cheerfully and generously.
Luke 10:38-42
Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain
village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she
had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But
Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord,
do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her
to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But
one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be
taken away from her.”
Mary & Martha
both loved Jesus. On this occasion they were both serving him. But Martha
thought Mary’s style of serving was inferior to hers. She didn’t realize that
in her desire to serve, she was actually neglecting her guest. Are you so
busy doing things FOR Jesus that you’re not spending any time with him? Don’t
let your service become self-serving.
Jesus did not blame
Martha for being concerned about household chores. He was only asking her to
set priorities. It is possible for service to Christ to degenerate into mere
busywork that is no longer full of devotion to God.
Romans 12:13
Distributing to the needs of the saints, given to
hospitality.
Healthy self-esteem
is important because some of us think too little of ourselves; on the other
hand, some of us overestimate ourselves. The key to an honest and accurate
evaluation is knowing the basis of our self-worth—our identity in Christ. Apart
from him, we aren’t capable of very much by eternal standards; in him, we are
valuable and capable of worthy service. Evaluating yourself by the worldly
standards of success and achievement can cause you to think too much about your
worth in the eyes of others and thus miss your true value in God’s eyes.
3 John 5
Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren
and for strangers.
In the church’s early
days, traveling prophets, evangelists, and teachers (the “brethren”) were
helped on their way by people like Gaius who housed and fed them. Hospitality
is a lost art in many churches today. We would do well to invite more people
for meals—fellow church members, young people, traveling missionaries, those in
need, visitors. This is an active and much appreciated way to show your love.
In fact it is probably more important today. Because of our individualistic,
self-centered society, there are many lonely people who wonder if anyone cares
whether they live or die. If yu find such a lonely person, show him or her that
you care!
Philemon 1:4-7
I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,
hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward
all the saints, that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the
acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have
great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have
been refreshed by you, brother.
Paul reflected on
Philemon’s love and faith. Philemon had opened his heart and his home to the
church. We should do likewise opening ourselves and our homes to others,
offering Christian fellowship to refresh people’s hearts.
Hebrews 13:2
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some
have unwittingly entertained angels.
Three Old Testament
people “unwittingly entertained angels”: {1} Abraham (Genesis 18:1) {2}Gideon
(Judges 6:11) and {3}Manoah (Judges 13:2). Some people say they cannot be
hospitable because their homes are not large enough or nice enough. But even if
you have no more than a table and two chairs in a rented room, there are people
who would be grateful to spend time in your home. Are there visitors to your
church with whom you could share a meal? Do you know single people who would
enjoy an evening of conversation? Is there any way your home could meet the
needs of traveling missionaries? Hospitality simply means making other people feel comfortable and at
home.
2 John 10
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do
not receive him into your house nor greet him…
John instructed the
believers not to show hospitality to false teachers. They were to do nothing
that would encourage the heretics in their propagation of falsehoods. In
addition, if believers were to invite them in, such action would show that they
were approving of what the false teachers said and did. It may seem rude to
turn people away, even if they are teaching heresy, but how much better it is
to be faithful to God than merely courteous to people! John is condemning the
support of those who are dedicated to opposing the true teachings of God, not
condemning hospitality to unbelievers. John adds that a person who supports a
false teacher in any way shares in the teacher’s wicked work.
I will be diving into each of these sections individually and sharing my thoughts and experiences on them in the coming weeks. I am very intrigued and hungry to learn more about this "gifting" that comes naturally to me. If you are interested in learning about your own spiritual gifting...go here to take the same test I took.
A couple of other great resources about learning more about hospitality are the following books:
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