Hospitality has been commanded of us in Scripture. In the days of the early Church there were no readily available accommodations, and travelers had to rely on the helpfulness of friends. It was a service to which some people would naturally incline much more than others. Some who are of an outgoing, generous, affable personality might be very glad to help Christian travelers; others might be naturally suspicious.
The Bible commands believers to “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling” (1 Pet. 4:9). The Apostle Paul advised Titus that a good bishop would be “hospitable, a love of what is good” (Titus 1:8), and he wrote to the Romans that they should be “given to hospitality” (Rom. 12:13). Paul himself depended heavily on the hospitality of brethren as he traveled from place to place.
Jesus also taught the principle of being willing givers: “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matt. 10:8). Again, “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Cor. 9:6-8).
Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.” Don't be so busy today that you forget the importance of "hospitality".
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