Entertaining Visitors by Dr. Lisa Burkhardt Worley
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. (Matthew 12:30-31).
This week, we have three different sets of people staying at our house. That means washing the sheets and cleaning the bathroom three times in one week. So why do it? Because my husband and I believe our house belongs to God, not ourselves, and we often open it up to others in ministry.
Hebrews 13:2 says, Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
The LORD might test us when it comes to showing hospitality to strangers. Years ago, I was in a grocery store checkout line, and a gentleman who looked homeless was behind me. He shoved a few items close to mine. I did not pay for them and have regretted that ever since. I thought, Did I miss my angel opportunity?
It’s better to err on the side of hospitality.
When we entertain acquaintances, such as ministry leaders, we get to know them better, and then they are no longer acquaintances. There is a morning breakfast time to talk, dinner opportunities, and a window of time to do life together. We become friends with the person with whom we are hospitable. Hospitality is appreciated.
In Acts 2, it said that “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need” (Acts 2:44–45). What if we lived like that today? If possible, the LORD desires for us to open our homes to those who might not be able to afford a hotel, or who needs a temporary place to stay. When we do so, blessings follow our hospitality.
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