5 Reasons Why We Should Practice Hospitality
One of my favorite ways to serve is by practicing hospitality in my home. My family tries to host a person or family that we do not know well to come over at least once a month. Eventually we would love to do it more frequently. Hosting is a way to encourage, bless, and get to know other people from all areas and walks of life. No matter your age or season in life you can practice hospitality. Here are 5 reasons why we should practice hospitality.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As a customer, you do not pay any more or less because of an affiliate link. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
1. It’s A Biblical Command
There are many examples in the Old and New Testament of the Bible. We even see Jesus eating and drinking with others at other’s homes. Here are some scriptures on hospitality.
Romans 12:13 says, “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”
1 Timothy 5:10 says, “and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.”
1 Peter 4:9 says, “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
2. A Way To Serve & Honor God
Having people over is not usually an easy thing to do. It can be an inconvenience. We usually have to clean our homes, sacrifice our time and money. Sometimes it just exhausts you physically and mentally, especially if you are an introvert.
The biggest reason why I enjoy serving by having people over is because I can clean, cook, and decorate my home as unto the Lord. It’s not about impressing the people coming over, it’s about giving thanks to the Lord, worshiping and doing it for Him. I want to give my best because God gave me everything. Jesus gave his life for us and we can never ever repay Him, but I know I can worship Him by doing things as unto Him.
My house is open to others because it’s a way for me to thank God for giving me a home. I serve food, drinks, and snacks because God blessed me with food to eat and clean water to drink. Decorating is a hobby of mine and I want others to feel relaxed, find rest in our home, and enjoy the seasons God blesses us with.
3. To Bless Others
Other than blessing guests with food to eat, we also like to ask them how we can pray for them and ask what they are going through in life. We want to share the love of Christ with all of those who come to our home because ultimately Christ is the only one who can bring true happiness, joy, and blessing in one’s life.
Hospitality doesn’t have to mean a meal at your home. It can mean having people over for coffee & dessert, inviting them over for a play-date, the super bowl party, or a camp fire in your back yard where you just enjoy s’mores. If you are worried about making anything food related just have them over for a Bible study or prayer time and serve store bought items. There is absolutely no shame in that and I do it all of the time! Make it as simple as you want.
4. Storing Up Treasure In Heaven
Besides inviting people from our church we like to invite neighbors, co-workers, and people we may not know too well. When you invite friends over they usually return the favor, like how Luke 14 describes, which I will quote down below. When we invite strangers or those we do not know too well, or those who cannot repay you or would want to, we are storing up treasure in heaven. God is going to bless us, maybe not always on earth, but He definitely will in heaven.
Luke 14:12-14 says, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
5. Great Way To Teach Your Kids
By hosting and serving in our home we are teaching our children how to host and how we can serve others. I get both of my kids involved with hospitality as much as possible by having them help with cleaning, prepping, and baking. They love having people over and getting to know new friends.
Resources For Hospitality
Maybe you still feel uncomfortable about hospitality. That’s okay! Just remember to start small and practice. I still have times where I get anxious before a family comes over, but I usually pray about it and leave it in God’s hands.
Reading books is a hobby of mine. Here are some books I read about hospitality, or that has a section of their book on hospitality that I really enjoyed. Hopefully it will encourage and motivate you to practice hospitality too!
Glimpses of Grace
Chapter 7 covers hospitality in Glimpses of Grace, and it nails it on the head. Gloria Furman is one of my favorite authors, and she really gets to the heart issue of things. I highly recommend Glimpses of Grace.
The Gospel Comes with a House Key
The Gospel Comes with a House Key is an amazing story of how the author practices hospitality. She practices hospitality seemingly almost everyday. I was definitely inspired by her story and how she opens her home to many.
5 Reasons Why We Should Practice Hospitality
Do you practice hospitality already? If so, what are your tips for hosting and blessings you have seen by doing so?
Did you enjoy reading this post? Here are some other ones you might enjoy!
Simple & Easy Cleaning Schedule
The Stay At Home Mom Schedule
How To Be A Godly Woman