Hospitality Field Trip Refreshes and Teaches
“To be hospitable means to be fond of guests. . .
Being hospitable, which the dictionary defines as
“given to generous and cordial reception of guests,”
is something Christians are commanded to do. . . “
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
1 Peter 4:9 (New International Version)
Sunday morning in my small group we read and prayed through I Peter 4. Verse 9 speaks about hospitality. Yesterday afternoon, God arranged a field trip to illustrate (to me) what hospitality looks like. I was invited (along with three others) to share Sunday lunch with E and R.
E & R’s cordial reception and fond treatment of us refreshed my spirit and the generous, lovely meal refreshed my body. I was feeling so happy that at one point I burst out, “I love being spoiled.”
I bet you do too.
Lord, help me to be on the look out to offer hospitality more often. Help me to spoil others!
I want to do this. I even think about it. Unfortunately, I let things interfere with the carrying out of my plans.
Things that hinder me:
- Too tired
- Messy home
- Too much to do
- Procrastination
- Didn’t think about it
- Fear
- Laziness
- Didn’t plan my schedule well
Thanks E & R for allowing me to have a field trip to your home and for your great example.
GOAL: This week I want to have someone in my home so that they’ll leave refreshed. Since I don’t work for my b-i-l on Friday, I’ll invite someone over for that afternoon.
Your Turn . . .
- What hinders you?
- Most importantly, how have you overcome these?
Related Post . . . One purpose of hospitality is refreshment
Entry filed under: Hospitality, Main.
Fruitful Words 
1.
The Autumn Rain | . at .
We’re looking forward to having an “entertaining” house again. When we have ours built, you’ll have to come up so we can spoil you! *grin*
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2.
Susan | . at .
I look forward to that, Autumn Rain! I’ll always be sad that I wasn’t able to live with ya’ll for a spell.
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3.
doodah! | . at .
My roommate and I are moving in a couple weeks and hopsitality was the driving force in which house we chose to move to. One of our goals when we moved in together was to have an open, inviting home. We host bible studies and ministry meetings and choir sectionals and game nights and movie nights and sleepovers for our little friends…
For single people especially, to open your home is to open yourself to a sense of family. I work 40-50 hours a week, and it would be easier to just keep to myself. Go to work. Go to the gym. Take a shower. Watch a little TV. Go to bed. But then I would be truly alone.
I love having a closet full of toys and magnetic letters on my fridge, holding up construction paper cards. I love cleaning up a messy kitchen at midnight, chuckling as I remember funny stories or lively dinner conversation. I love to have my house filled with singing. And laughter. And “the prayers of the saints.”
So really, I think *I’m* the one getting spoiled!
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4.
Keziah | . at .
Really encouraged to read this post. I am working on this too. I think as singles it is so easy to become inward looking and lonely, when really we can use this for such joyful service!
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5.
doodah! | . at .
So true Keziah – believe you me there are many evenings that find my roommate and I crashed out on the floor watching DVDs and screening our calls! Hospitality is good for us, but it IS a discipline of sorts – at least if you don’t have a natural knack for it. I s’pose its like any spiritual discipline – takes practice.
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6.
Susan | . at .
Doodah said, “For single people especially, to open your home is to open yourself to a sense of family.”
I never thought of it that way before. When I moved back to CA, I moved back to family. My sister and her family are especially good at integrating me into their lives.
So I haven’t felt the need to have family through hospitality.
But I think I have been missing out.
I am no longer a wife and mother of children (at home and they are now adults). I am single. And as a single woman I have the opportunity to entertain in a way that is different than before.
But just as rewarding.
Thanks, Doodah for your input.
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7.
Susan | . at .
Keziah, Thanks for your comment. I enjoyed reading your “hospitality” posts on your site. Very encouraging.
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8.
see-through faith | . at .
brilliant post.
to be hoenst I’ve got over the ‘house isn’t tidy’ … I think it’s linked to pride … and recently the battle between the need to see friends has won over the housepride curse. Hallelujah.
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9.
Susan | . at .
See-through Faith, I commented on this in the post titled, How Messy Is Too Messy or When Is It Clean Enough To Have Folks Over? July 24, 2006.
That is a good battle to win.
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10.
10 Ways to Show Your Love | Fruitful Words | . at .
[…] Invite someone to your home for tea or a home-cooked meal, Or take them out to eat. Go here and here for more ideas on […]
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11.
Kindness is Paying Someone’s Way | Fruitful Words | . at .
[…] Related Posts . . . Hospitality Field Trip Refreshes and Teaches […]
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3 Ways to Encourage Others Year Round | Fruitful Words | . at .
[…] Read other posts I’ve written on hospitality. (1) My cooking means someone died? (2) How Messy Is Too Messy or When Is It Clean Enough To Have Folks Over? (3) Hospitality Field Trip Refreshes and Teaches. […]
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[…] Read posts I’ve written about hospitality. (1) 3 Ways to Encourage Others Year Round (2) Hospitality Field Trip Refreshes and Teaches […]
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