We are always being surprised by God. He is God of the simple, practical. See this again in our text I Peter 4:9-11. God is here asking for genuine hospitality — a lost art. God ties His glory to your home — to the way you treat a stranger at your table.
How much of the Bible’s great events hang on home happenings! Remember Abraham, Lot and the angels. Hospitality also figured in the lives of Jacob and David with Mephibosheth, the widow to Elijah, Mary and Martha to Jesus, and also Zacchaeus and Matthew to our Lord, Onesiphorus to Paul — and many, many other key instances.
The conversion of Lydia through Paul’s ministry (Acts 16) was crucial. One says of this, “The first practical result of a heart opened to the Scriptures was a house opened to strangers and ultimately a continent opened to the gospel of Christ. Yes, where there is heart room there is house room.”
Turning again to our main text, I Peter 4:9-11, we can find God’s instructions for glorifying Him through practical home hospitality.
I. DO IT REGULARLY
Pastors and church leaders are required to set a pace, to show an example of hospitality (I Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:8). However, do not think it is only for special individuals to do so. See also Romans 12:13 and I Timothy 5:10.
Our text joins these to show that we are to busy ourselves and our homes in ministering to others. It is a general, continual, regular responsibility. Note the words “one to another,” and “every man,” 9 and 10. The warm-color thread of hospitality is seen all through the fabric of Bible history.
THE BIG QUESTION IS: Do we practice this today in any general sense? Most folks feel they are hospitable, but is this really the case? How much do fellow Christians truly fellowship with and encourage one another? This means giving time, practical help, even financial assistance. The average believer has literally retired from any involvement in the lives of those who are members of his very own spiritual family. Rarely are the more intimate, personal workings of God exchanged in private in order to edify one another, even though this is commended in the Bible. Yea, this IS the Christian life!
It simply is not enough to greet strangers at the church door. Many smugly congratulate themselves as “the friendly church” because they do only that. Strangers need you and your home. A passing visitor invited to your home for a meal might, upon hearing how God has blessed you, be blessed himself, revived spiritually and kept from impending difficulties. Think of all our visitors, service personnel, lonely and far from home, or new families in the community, struggling to get acquainted. Generally these find it hard to develop new friends as so few Christians ever offer themselves! What a shameful failure!
II. DO IT CHEERFULLY
Here is another bit of instruction for showing hospitality. It must be “without grudging.” Surely, this is for the glory of God, so why complain at any opportunity to enter deeply into the needs of others? Work quietly without complaining, without trumpeting the “sacrifice.” After all, you are not just laying out, you are laying up. God remembers even the cup of cold water given by a caring hand. Study also Hebrews 6:10-12.
Think, too, how your own children will be blessed as they live in an atmosphere of outgoing concern for others. Truly they will breathe clear air! Then think of the blessing it will be to the entire church.
Indeed, those church people who refuse to be so involved have reason to tremble. Jesus warns He will say to them, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels…whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” Matthew 25:41,45.
III. DO IT PROPORTIONATELY
The very original language of verse 10 indicates proportion. As (in proportion to) each one has received from God so let him share (or minister to) with others. You show what you think of God’s blessings to you by what you do for others. Never mind what you did one time in a burst of warm feeling. God is blessing you every day. Are you sharing deeply with others regularly and in proportion?
Hospitality therefore is an indicator of God’s blessings — as surely as smoke indicates the presence of fire. A with-holding testifies to paucity of providence. Our withdrawn hand almost accuses God of having failed us in like manner, for we are to give to others AS we receive from God.
Now, please take note. It is not a matter of just giving to the offering plate. People need YOU AND YOUR HOME. Invite them in for a cheerful, friendly, relaxed time – maybe a brief game or two, followed by a snack and a bit of Bible reading and spiritual sharing. “Oh, I could never do that,” someone says. “I’m too nervous and my home is not nice enough.” Hear it: “I,” “my.” There is the trouble! If you wait until you can do all the extra, you will fail utterly. Order and neatness is all that is required. Too much refinery often only adds to stiffness. Why not plan now to testify to God’s goodness to you by deliberately planning for the refreshment of others?
IV. DO IT THOUGHTFULLY
As the foregoing dealt with extent, so now let us consider the quality of our sharing with others. I Peter 4:10 states that we are “stewards of God’s grace.” Thus God is holding us responsible for distribution to others out of the treasury of His gifts to us. And, His grace toward us is said to be “manifold” – beautiful, proper, fitting, seasonal. “How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” Psalm 104:24. Let the whole earth praise our God. Surely, believers will! Shall only the church be silent? Shall we not display His riches by enriching other lives?
Thoughtful hospitality will preclude selfishness. We are not to entertain and share just with “our kind.” Never mind those regular coffee friends! Reach to the ones whose personality, tastes, hobbies, interests, spiritual levels are different from yours. Reach to those in real need.
Remember that healing for which you begged God in prayer? And, when you cried, “Restore my soul!” God in mercy lifted you. Now pay your vows. Remember how you longed for a family and home of your own? Peace of mind? See how God has blessed and revived you! But what of those still plodding in the shadows? Draw them into your own circle. Invite them to your home and simply share something of what God has done for you.
One thing is sure. If you begin to practice this message you will never be the same again. Christian workers, fellow believers, prospective believers, new friends, neighbors will begin to see the inside of your home and family circle. Spiritual service will be begun. Your very home will become a center of edification and enrichment for others — perhaps even a “space platform” beyond the walls of the church. God grant it!