HOSPITALTY, the neglected command Congregational Theme: Daily Disciples: Good Works (1 Peter 4:9)

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1 HOSPITALTY, the neglected command Congregational Theme: Daily Disciples: Good Works (1 Peter 4:9) A. As we continue with our congregational theme we want to touch on a subject that is often neglected. 1. We should be concerned if we have been neglectful in the pursuit of any of the Lord s commands for us. 2. I don t believe that we necessarily become neglectful purposely. 3. But as with all of the subjects in our congregational theme: prayer, meditation on Scripture, teaching the lost & good works, we usually become neglectful of a duty when we don t make discipleship a daily priority in our lives. 4. And the only way we can ever make the Lord s will our priority is by truly setting our affections on things above & seeking first the Kingdom of God & His righteousness (Col 3:1; Matt 6:33). B. The subject of hospitality is one that we usually think we understand quiet well. ISBE When the civilization of a people has advanced so far that some traveling has become necessary, but not yet so far that traveling by individuals is a usual thing, then hospitality is a virtue indispensable to the life of the people. This stage of culture was that represented in ancient Israel & the stage whose customs are still preserved among the present-day Arabs of the desert. Hospitality is regarded as a right by the traveler, to whom it never occurs to thank his host as if for a favor. And hospitality is granted as a duty by the host, who himself may very soon be dependent on someone else s hospitality. The traveler is made the literal master of the house during his stay; his host will perform for him the most servile offices, & will not even sit in his presence without express request. The host is in duty bound to defend his guest against all comers & to lay aside any personal hatred--the murderer of father is safe as the guest of the son. C. Hospitality is founded on the divine law of loving others as you love yourself (Lev 19:18). 1. In fact, the word hospitality as we find it used in the NT (philo-xenos) means love of strangers; fond of guests; generous to guests. 1. But as we begin to study what the word of God tells us about this duty, what we learn may catch us by surprise. 2. Let s go back to the OT. 2. I think we may discover that our current concept of hospitality needs to be altered & expanded just a little bit. 1

2 Lev 19:33-34 And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. 34 The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, & you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. Lev 25:23-27 The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers & sojourners with Me. 24 And in all the land of your possession you shall grant redemption of the land. (Land laws: redemption) Exo 2:20 (Reuel: Moses future father in law, daughter Zipporah Moses future wife) So he said to his daughters, And where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread. Judges 13:15 (Samson s father) Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, Please let us detain You, & we will prepare a young goat for You. 3. The examples of hospitality with which we are most familiar are the examples of Abraham & Lot (Gen 18:1-8; 19:1-3). 4. That kind of hospitality was so admired, & so much a gauge of man s true character, that Job asserted his integrity by reflecting on his desire to be hospitable. Job 31:32 (But no sojourner had to lodge in the street, for I have opened my doors to the traveler). [Now it s easy to see why hospitality was so important in the ancient world, the mode of travel was primitive, & rest stops were few. Travelers had to take everything needed for their journey, & then there was the risk of thieves.] a. In those cases, invitations were made to the travelers to stay & rest, feet were washed, food & drink were prepared & protection was provided. I. IS HOSPITALITY FOR US? A. Right about here we may be a little confused about the subject of hospitality. b. Lot went so far as to offer two of his daughters to protect his visitors (the angels) from the sexual perverts in Sodom. 1. We may be thinking, Hospitality is not what I thought it was. 2

3 2. The OT depicts people assisting travelers, NOT entertaining close friends & relatives. B. So, is hospitality really for us in our modern time & culture? It must be, it s commanded. 3. But the truth is that hospitality is NOT just an act of kindness extended to travelers, NOR is it just a social custom of ancient people. 4. How do you view hospitality? a. When you go on a trip away from home, do you just show up in a town & hope that someone will find you & take you home? b. When you travel, do you call ahead & ask a member of the church if you could stay with his or her family? c. Don t we usually make reservations with a motel, & aren t we charged a sizable fee for that privilege? As much as Tom Bodett would like for us to believe it, Motel 6 does not practice Biblical hospitality. 1 Peter 4:9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. [dioko (dee-o -ko); to pursue] Rom 12:13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 1 Tim 5:9-10 Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, & not unless she has been the wife of one man, 10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. Titus 1:7-9 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not selfwilled, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word. (cf. 1 Tim 3:2) Heb 13:1-2 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers [philo-nexia; to show love to strangers] for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels (Abraham & Lot) [So how should we view hospitality in a modern culture, where traveling is fairly simple, & where everything we need is so conveniently provided?] II. A PROPER VIEW OF HOSPITALITY 3

4 A. Be Prepared To Aid Strangers. B. Be Prepared To Aid Members. 1. The Good Samaritan was not at his house, but he demonstrated not only how to be a neighbor, but also how to be hospitable according to the Biblical use of that term (Luke 10:30-37). 1. Hospitality is not only a demonstration of one s love for strangers, or Peter & Paul would not have taught that it MUST be practiced among Christians. 2. We need to recognize that life & travel is NOT simple & convenient for some people (Christians or not). a. When occasions arise for us to be of some assistance to someone who is trying to get home or to a necessary destination we need to be prepared to show our love for them though they may be strangers to us. b. Now I know there are many people out there who will take advantage another s hospitality. a. Peter wrote, Be hospitable to one another. b. Paul wrote, Distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. c. What the apostles are teaching us is that we who should make opportunities to show our love each other in the same manner that Reuel, Manoah, Abraham & Lot loved the perfect strangers who came into their midst. 4 c. But the idea here is to be prepared to aid even a stranger & even if it inconveniences us.. C. Be Prepared To Aid Evangelism. 1. The Lord anticipated hospitality among some of the Jews, & He used it to further the gospel.

5 Luke 9:1-6 (the 12) Then He called His twelve disciples together & gave them power & authority over all demons, & to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God & to heal the sick. 3 And He said to them, Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; & do not have two tunics apiece. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there, & from there depart. 5 And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them. 6 So they departed & went through the towns, preaching the gospel & healing everywhere. (Matt 10:40-42) Luke 10:4-8 (the 70) Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; & greet no one along the road. 5 But whatever house you enter, first say, Peace to this house. 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating & 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, & they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. Philem 22 (for Paul) But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you. 3 John 5-6 (From Gaius) Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren & for strangers, 6 who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, D. Be Prepared To Go. 1. But the Lord also taught us that hospitality is something we must go out & do. 2. Remember the scene of the final judgment (Matt 25:34-40, 46). 3. Remember the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). 4. Which brings up the question, Did Jesus practice hospitality? Well we know that He didn t even have a house. E. Be Prepared To Emulate Jesus Hospitality is something we practice when we have gospel meetings. a. We provide housing for preachers, & we should invite visitors into our homes. 1. You could argue that Jesus earthly house was the physical world that He created by the word of His power (John 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2). 2. And yes, He used his house to show hospitality.

6 a. People came to Him & He healed them of all their diseases & infirmities (Matt 15:30). b. People came to Him & He fed them when they were hungry (Matt 14:19; 15:36). c. He went to them & helped them through storms / death (Mark 6:48; Luke 7:11-17; John 11). d. He invited them to come to Him & find rest from their labors & heaven burdens (Matt 11:28). e. He invited even the little children (Matt 19:14). f. He invited the thirsty to come & drink of the fountain of eternal life (John 7:37). [So in order to have a proper view of hospitality we must be in a constant state of preparedness: prepared to love strangers, brethren, evangelism, & prepared to follow in the footsteps of the Lord & Savior.] God planned for the greatest act of hospitality when Jesus left His Heavenly Home to come here to live & die for strangers like us (past & yet to be born). And He did that to provide eternal salvation to all who will obey him. And yet, in His divinity, His Godhood, He was not dying for strangers but for sinners, whom He knew only too well. For He knows every person, every man & woman; He knows you your heart; He knows what you have done. Will you seek the forgiveness of your sins? You need to consider that because sin will keep you separated from God & the eternal life He offers you. Romans 5:6-9 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Romans 6:3-4 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. CLOSING PART #1 6

7 III. HOW TO PRACTICE HOSPITALITY Judges 19:16-21 That evening an old man from the hill country of Ephraim, who was living in Gibeah (the men of the place were Benjamites), came in from his work in the fields. 17 When he looked & saw the traveler in the city square, the old man asked, Where are you going? Where did you come from? 18 He answered, We are on our way from Bethlehem in Judah to a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim where I live. I have been to Bethlehem in Judah & now I am going to the house of the Lord. No one has taken me into his house. 19 We have both straw & fodder for our donkeys & bread & wine for ourselves your servants me, your maidservant, & the young man with us. We don t need anything. 20 You are welcome at my house, the old man said. Let me supply whatever you need. Only don t spend the night in the square. 21 So he took him into his house & fed his donkeys. After they had washed their feet, they had something to eat & drink. A. Regularly to maintain unity & peace. 1. As members of a holy priesthood offering up spiritual sacrifices to God, our minds & bodies are the means by which we do that (Rom 12:1; 1 Pet 2:5), & so hospitality ought to be practiced as regularly as every other duty we have to God. Eph 4:1-3 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness & gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 2. It s very easy to convince ourselves that the bare minimum act of kindness will qualify as the type of hospitality the Lord requires of us. 3. But rather, hospitality is an ongoing work that has your mind always engaged & your hands always active in the doing of it. 4. And if we don t feel that way about our brand of hospitality, then we are probably not given to it (pursuing it) as Paul commanded (Rom 12:13). B. To One Another include the lowly. 1. Hospitality is a means by which we build spiritual intimacy with one another. Rom 12:10, 16 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 7

8 2. One of the reasons you are as close to your immediate family as you are is because you share experiences with them every day that you don t share with others (eating, errands, chores, helping through sickness & sorrow, etc.). 6. The most beautiful thing in the world to behold is a Christian of fairly meager means who is not afraid or ashamed to use what they have to demonstrate their love for others (Matt 10:42) Hospitality will serve to build & strengthen the relationship you have with other Christians to point that they will be as strong, & in some cases stronger, than your family ties. 4. You see, preachers don t preach on hospitality because they want more invitations into members homes, we do it in hope that every member will get involved with every other member, so that no one gets overlooked in the giving & receiving of the good gifts God has given to each one of us. 5. Can the poor be hospitable to the rich? Peter commanded, Be hospitable to one another. C. Without Grumbling as to the Lord. 1. It s easy to see how hospitality could be a source of complaining in Bible times, because society demanded it, & some of the customs regarding it were very difficult & inconvenient. 2. The same can be true for us. True hospitality will cost us something; it s going to be a little difficult & inconvenient, perhaps even financially costly. 3. So the only way to view hospitality is to view it a service we render to the Lord (Matt 25:34-40, 46). 2 Cor 8:1-5 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy & their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, & beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we

9 would receive the gift & the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, & then to us by the will of God. 2 Cor 9:6-7 He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, & he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. D. Not For Favor out of preference. 1. Hospitality can degenerate into the practice of merely socializing with friends, or as another way to entertain ourselves. They had us over, so we had them over. Luke 6:32-36 But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, & lend, hoping for nothing in return; & your reward will be great, & you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful & evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.. CLOSING A. Lessons like this have a way of making the most generous & hospitable among us even more so, & that is really not the intention. 2. When that is the case, when that is the ONLY reason we show hospitality, then there is really no virtue associated with it. 1. If you are hospitable keep up the good work, this lesson is not intended to be a burden to your conscience. Luke 14:12-14 Then He also said to him who invited Him, When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, & you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. 14 AND YOU WILL BE BLESSED, BECAUSE THEY CANNOT REPAY YOU; FOR YOU SHALL BE REPAID AT THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST. B. The purpose has been to show that hospitality is a work in which we ALL can & must be involved. Rom 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace AND the things by which one may edify another. 9

10 1 Thess 5:15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves & for all. John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. [The reason we want people to know that we are His disciples, is so that they will believe & know that God sent His Son into this world to save them (John 17:20-23). Hospitality is a means by which we can open doors of opportunity to teach others the gospel. Be involved in the great work of hospitality!] 10