God Centered Hospitality

I grew up in an intentionally hospitable home. I often joke that my parents’ love language is feeding others delicious meals. Since I can remember, their home has been open to extended family, exchange students, church small groups, friends, and acquaintances. My parents’ hospitality was a trait I looked to emulate in my own home one day. As a frequent recipient of my parents’ hospitality, Josh also wanted to emulate their hospitable trait. When we got married, we hung a frame with part of Joshua 24:15, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” We wanted our traditions as a family to reflect God’s love for us and for others.

Unfortunately for me, the hospitality trait I mentioned does not seem to be hereditary. Hospitality does not come naturally to me, as I tend to overthink and second guess when I feel flustered. Despite this, Josh challenged us as a family to invite an individual or group for a meal once a month. A meal that was about thanking God for His blessings and to show His love to others. We began last year, and while we have not met our monthly quota, it has encouraged us to be more proactive and intentional.

I hope repetition will strengthen my hospitality muscles, but for right now, I continue to battle the lies that the state of my home will be more impactful than the state of my heart as a host. I second guess the meal choices, and I struggle to make our home appear as if four young children do not rumble and tumble through it every day. But what is the point of that? Do I truly believe that a guest’s ability to feel God’s love in my family is determined by the state of my house? More than by the state of my heart as I invite others inside to spend time together?

While of course a welcoming home is important, my heart posture is even more so. I have to remember to take the focus off myself and instead focus on how God has commanded me to treat the guest, friend, or stranger walking through my front door. Am I trying to display myself and my family in a certain way to them or am I trying to display God and His character to them?

My prayer is also that my “goal” never becomes a checklist. As a Christian I have to be careful to not obey God simply from a place of duty, but from a heart desire to serve Him and model His love. I was first sobered and then encouraged to read what Peter wrote in 1 Peter 4:9-11, “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”

I pray that my focus in hospitality, in showing love to friends and strangers, is always to glorify God. And that is my prayer for us as a church. May we be a people whose hospitality is not focused on us but on God’s goodness and grace.