HOSPITALITY AND SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY

by Linda Abercrombie 

  When Paul the apostle listed the qualifications to be an elder in the church, one of them was that they be given to hospitality (Titus 1:8). What does showing hospitality have to do with spiritual authority?

 First…hospitality is obviously something that is very dear to the Lord’s own heart.  Isaiah 25:6 says, “And the Lord of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain; a banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, and refined aged wine.” The God who placed the galaxies in the heavens will prepare a banquet for us!  It seems that the first act of the Lord after His kingdom is established.. is to serve us in this way.  How much more should we be willing to serve one another?  That’s why Paul understood that true spiritual authority will always be accompanied by hospitality. It is also no accident that the same root word is used for hospital.  There is healing in hospitality.  After the fall, even the first two brothers could not get along, and one killed the other one.

Relationships are difficult.  The selfishness that was the result of the fall has made all of us prone to ruthless territorial preservation. 1 Peter 4:6-10  says, “Above all keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9) Be hospitable to one another without complaint.  10)  As each one has received a special gift employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

Our ultimate domain is our home.  Therefore when we invite someone into our homes, it is a powerful gesture of openness to that person. I read a survey on “building trust between and within people groups” it was asked; “what things enable them to trust those of other races.  Every one replied that it was when they were invited to that person’s home. Over the years there have been many opportunities to open our homes to visiting speakers and groups as they have come here to this area.  There is a special blessing in this…as we read in Hebrew’s 13:2;  “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

 In Matthew 25:32-40, we are told that one of the ways that the sheep will be distinguished from the goats when the Lord returns: “And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.  Then the King will say to those on His right, “come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”  “For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink;  I was a stranger and you invited me in; naked, and you clothed me.  I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me.”  Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You drink?  And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked and clothe you?  And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? And the King will answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.” If the Lord Himself came to a meeting, wouldn’t we do just about anything to have Him come to our homes?  Would we not then prepare the very best that we could for Him? Is that not the special honor that the great friends of the Lord had in the gospels?

As we do to even the least of the Lord’s people, we are doing it for Him!

In the age in which we live…hospitality is quickly becoming a lost grace.  Its enemies are …our schedules…our lifestyles…our insecurities…our ignorance of its importance for changing things in the unseen realm. The lack of hospitality in the church and by the church is a very effective ploy of Satan to diffuse the power of the church. When he can isolate us from one another he has effectively defeated the church from fulfilling its purpose. We need to open our homes to those who visit us.  As a church family we need to fellowship together more. Be involved with church family plans. And then go beyond that and start making plans of our own with one another (in addition to corporate plans…NOT instead of them!) We need to step outside of our comfort zones and invite one another to be part of church family events. 

Often time I have someone come into my office and talk to me about their loneliness and yet they do not take advantage of the opportunities afforded them. Maybe if someone were to call them specifically and invite them to come with them…offer to sit with them…even offer to pick them up and transport them so that they did not have to arrive alone. Mike and I believe that we must do our best to make hospitality the very first consideration in all that we do and in every ministry that comes out of this place. It’s God’s hear. He loves us. He commands that we love each other.  We don’t prove that we love one another unless we desire to be together. Hospitality is God’s plan and He modeled it for us. Even now Jesus is preparing a place for us in His Father’s mansion.  A special place just for each of us.

This is something that is fundamental to spiritual leadership, and those who excel in it can be trusted with much. The books of the New Testament are filled with examples of Hospitality being expressed with one another.  The books of the New Testament are also filled with accountings of miracles and power encounters with the Holy Spirit. I don’t think that the two are unrelated.

Sharing a meal.

Sharing a ride to a mutual destination.

Inviting people into your home.

Going out for coffee,

Going to a restaurant for a meal.

Having a game night

Bring a picnic lunch with you on a nice summer’s Sunday,,,and invite someone to go to the park or beach or zoo or? And share the picnic with them.

Plan a company meal on a Sunday… then come to the meeting and ask the Lord who He wants you to ask over for the afternoon.

Plan a game night with a few couples and come use the fellowship hall for the evening. (after checking with the church office about the availability of the facility)

We’re all busy. We all have our insecurities over our houses, our cooking skills, our lack of money to really impress anyone. Since we’re all in the same boat that should make it easier…right? As a church we have a job to do…and doing it together makes it a whole lot of fun!

Don’t let your plans end with good intentions…carry through with them!