Week 33: August 13, 2017
Topic: Hospitality - Part 1
Bible Reading: 1 Peter 4: 1-9
Introduction
Hospitality is the friendly or generous reception and entertainment of guests/visitors/ strangers. It can also be described as the quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly and generous way.
Brethren in the Lord, I want us to remember that we are sojourners and guests in this world, no matter how long we live on earth, we will return home to give the account of our stewardship to our heavenly Father. The Bible stated that we are citizens of heaven and we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ Philippians 3: 20. Therefore the little time that we are going to spend on earth, let us be nice and kind to one another, most especially let us be hospitable to others.
Beloved, as sojourners and pilgrims in this world, I beg us to abstain from fleshly lusts and sinful/worldly desires, which wage war against our souls. Instead we should love and be hospitable to one another 1 Peter 2: 11. Since we have limited time to use in this world, then we should use it judiciously by touching one another’s lives in a manner that is in conformity with the teachings of the Bible.
The Almighty God loves the strangers and He is merciful towards them by providing for their needs. He administers justice for them together with shelter, food and clothing. If our heavenly Father loves the sojourners/pilgrims to the extent that He provides for their needs, then what audacity do you have not to love and provide for the strangers/guests/immigrants Deuteronomy 10: 17-18? God has shown you Christians, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy to be hospitable and to walk humbly with your God Micah 6: 8. For this reason, love the stranger and the sojourner, because you are a sojourner and pilgrim in this world Deuteronomy 10: 19.
God cares for the strangers and the poor
God loves mankind and He wants us to be hospitable to one another, most importantly the less privileged in the society, like the strangers, the widows, the poor and the fatherless.
God protects and preserve the less privileged: The Lord in His infinite mercy always protects and keeps safe the foreigners wherever they are living in the world. He sustains the fatherless and the widow, but He frustrates the plans of the wicked people. It is written that “The Lord watches over the strangers, He relieves the fatherless and the widow, but the way of the wicked He turns upside down”
Psalm 146: 9. Do your best to cater for the needs of the strangers, the fatherless and the widows according to the capability that God has bestowed upon you.
God gives sustenance to the less privileged: It is the instruction of the Lord that when you reap the harvest of your land, you must not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You must leave them for the poor and the stranger so that they will not starve but have enough to eat. God directed that you must not harvest the edges of your field and do not pick what the harvesters drop. It is a way of sustaining the poor and the foreigners, therefore be hospitable to them
Leviticus 23: 22. Also be hospitable to the poor and the stranger by not gleaning your vineyard or gather every grape of your vineyard, but leave them for the less privileged Leviticus 19: 9-10.
When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you must not go back to get it. It shall be for the stranger, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of you hands. When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless and the widow Deuteronomy 24: 19-20. If God can go to this length to provide for the less privileged and sustain them, then you too need to contribute your quota. Even if you are not a farmer, find a way to cater for the strangers, the fatherless and the widows in manners that will show/prove that you are hospitable to them.
Equality and freedom for strangers
The foreigners who are living in our Nations must be treated with equity and respect because they are human beings like ourselves. Therefore, we must be hospitable to them at all times. The scripture stated that the native-born Israelites and foreigners are equal before the Lord and are subject to the same laws/decrees. This is a permanent law for them and it must be observed from generation to generation. One law must govern the citizens, and the strangers who dwell among us, because our God is not partial Numbers 15: 15-16. Every nation of the world must practice the statements of these passages whereby people’s human rights will be respected whether you are a citizen or immigrant.
Brethren treat the foreigners who live among you the same way you treat the citizens. Treat both the citizens and immigrants equally without bias or partiality. Love the aliens as you love yourself, whatever you want people to do to you, do them to the foreigners and most importantly be hospitable to them Leviticus 19: 34. Christians must remember that at a time in their lives, they have traveled to another city/state/country/continent whereby they were guests/foreigners. Therefore let them reciprocate the love and the hospitality shown to them. They must make sure that they do not find faults in their guests, but treat them with respect like every other citizen.
Be hospitable to the less privileged
We that are of the household of Christianity faith must be hospitable. We must be lovers of strangers, with brotherly affection for the unknown guests, the foreigners, the poor and all other people who come our ways, people who are of Christ’s body. At every instance perform the task cheerfully, cordially and graciously without any complaint, but as a representative of Christ.
Be an exemplary host/hostess: Be an exemplary host/hostess, be hospitable to people without grumbling. Show excitement whenever you are receiving guests. Do not be nasty or rude towards your guests, but be cheerful so that you will be rewarded. The Bible says “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling” 1 Peter 4: 9. Make sure that you are generous with everything that God has given to you and are hospitable to people without complaining.
Christians, cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. I did not say that you should open your doors for criminals, but brethren in the Lord, if you do it grudgingly; it is not acceptable in the presence of the Lord because God loves a cheerful giver. Whatever you want to do for the glory of God and you want the heavenly reward to manifest in your life must be done cheerfully.
Behave like a Christian: One of the virtues of Christianity is hospitality, and people will recognize anyone with this quality as a Christian. The Bible stated that we must always take care of the saints. We must always distribute according to their needs and make provision for their lack. Most especially we must be given to hospitality and be hospitable to everyone Romans 12: 11-13. Henceforth, cultivate a habit of helping the brethren in time of need and resolving their problems. Provide for the needs of brothers and sisters in the Lord; take care of their lack. Get into the habit of entertaining and accommodating guests so that your heavenly Father will bless you abundantly.
Precondition before appointment: Hospitality is a precondition for anyone who is seeking to be appointed into office in the church of the Lord. This precondition is not limited to the pastors/priests alone, but it must be satisfied by all and sundry.
The priests/pastors and the servants of God are not exempted from hospitality. In fact it is one of the important qualities that servant of God must possess before being ordained by the church. Any pastor/priest that is not hospitable to the brethren is not worthy/fit for the ordination to serve as the ambassador of Christ Titus 1: 7-8, 1 Timothy 3: 2. Every servant of God must enjoy having guests in his/her home. He/she must have all things that are good, but forsake every form of evil and sin. Any pastor/priest that is not hospitable will be a bad influence on the congregation and may lead many parishioners astray.
Week 34: August 20, 2017
Topic: Hospitality – Part 2
Bible Reading: 1 Peter 4: 1-9
This study shall continue by discussing what the Bible says about mistreating of a stranger.
Do not mistreat any stranger/sojourner
Do not mistreat any stranger/sojourner that resides in your community. You must neither do any wrong nor cheat the aliens in your country. You must not molest any foreigner that is living in your nation. The Bible says, “And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him” Leviticus 19: 33. Therefore do not take advantage of strangers/foreigners who live among you in your land, but be hospitable to them.
Remember that at a particular time you yourself have been a tourist/stranger in a foreign city/state/country. For this reason you must never hurt a stranger, but be hospitable to him/her. It is written that “You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” Exodus 22: 21. Anyone that exploits or mistreats sojourners/foreigners in any way has disobeyed the Lord. So remember that you yourselves were once tourists/strangers in another city/state/country, and reciprocate the care that was given to you by being hospitable to the strangers.
Never forget to entertain people
The Bible says “It is more blessed to give than to receive” which means it is more blessed to be hospitable to people than to mistreat them Acts 20: 35. Be an entertainer and not an oppressor, receive and entertain people courteously because there is reward in doing so. Paul apostle and his group were accepted and warmly welcomed by Publius. He entertained them with hearty hospitality for three days. When Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery, Paul went into his room and prayed for him and he laid his hands on him and healed him Acts 28: 7-8. The healing of Publius’s father is an indirect reward for his hospitality to Paul and his group. You too receive strangers in friendly manner, and be nice to the poor. Treat sojourners kindly and be hospitable to everybody.
Do not refuse to extend hospitality to strangers, do not neglect the poor and share whatever the Lord has given to you for the benefits of others. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers and sojourners, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it Hebrews 13: 2. Extend your hospitality to everybody around you, so that it shall be well with you throughout their lifetime.
Commandments of the Lord concerning Hospitality
The following are some of the commandments of the Lord written in the Bible concerning hospitality.
Be fair and deliver justice to the strangers: Do not twist the judgment in any dispute between the citizens and the foreigners. Do not delay justice in any legal case involving the alien/sojourner living in your land because justice delayed is justice denied. The judges must be fair in all their dealings, most especially any case that involve the stranger/immigrant; they must never misrepresent the case. God commanded the judges saying “Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who is with him” Deuteronomy 1: 16. Judges and people in position of authority must never justify the wicked or punish the innocent, but they must be fair to all the parties involved.
Do not hate your relatives or strangers: You must never hate your relatives or the strangers for any reason. If there is an issue between you, find an amicable way of resolving it. Never detest human beings that are created in the likeness of God but be hospitable to them so that their Creator will bless the work of your hands. The scripture stated that “You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian, because you were an alien in his land” Deuteronomy 23: 7. Be hospitable to people and never hate anyone.
Do not oppress the foreigners: Since the Lord commanded that there must be one law/statute for the citizens and the foreigners, then do not maltreat or abuse foreigners. You must neither oppress nor persecute the strangers/aliens. The Bible says “Also you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt Exodus 23: 9. Therefore you must not take advantage of immigrant workers, do not extort from a hired worker who is poor and needy. Stop the exploitation of hired workers, most especially those that are poor and needy, whether they are citizens or foreigners. Don’t abuse labourers who are destitute and needy, don’t withhold their wages, pay them according to your agreement, since they are living from hand to mouth. It is written that “You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether one of your brethren or one of the aliens who is in your land within your gates” Deuteronomy 24: 14. Never oppress anybody most especially hired workers, whether they are citizens or foreigners. Pay them their wages or what is due to them each day before sunset, since they are poor, and they need the fund right away (immediately); otherwise they may cry out to the Lord against you, and it will be counted as a sin against you.
Judgment of the Lord
The judgment of the Lord will come upon those people who are not hospitable to others, but mistreat them.
They will be judged in this world: Though Almighty God will judge the sorcerers, the adulterers, and those who swear falsely. He will judge those who cheat the hired labourers of their wages, those who oppress the widow, the fatherless and deny justice to the aliens. Anyone who robs foreigners of their rights does not fear the Lord. “I am on my way to visit you with judgment says the Lord of Hosts: I will present compelling evidence against sorcerers, adulterers, liars, those who exploit workers, those who take advantage of widows and orphans, those who are inhospitable to the strangers because they neither fear nor honour Me”.
Either you believe or not, whether you like or not “At the appointed time My punishment will be quick and certain; I will move swiftly against wicked men who trick the innocent, against adulterers and liars, against all those who cheat their hired workers, who oppresses widows and orphans or defraud strangers and do not fear Me” says the Lord of Hosts Malachi 3: 5. Since God will put you on trial and He is eager to witness against you, then do not cheat employees of their wages or deprive the foreigners living among you justice, but be hospitable to them.
Heavenly Judgment: Jesus Christ will pass judgment on the inhospitable people. When He is judging the Nations of the world, He will tell them “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me”. “Then they also will answer Him saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them saying ‘Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me’, And these will go away into of these, you did not do it to Me’, And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” Matthew 25: 41-46. Learn how to be hospitable if you don’t want to spend your eternity in hell fire.
Week 35: August 27, 2017
Topic: Hospitality- Part 3
Bible Reading: 1 Peter 4: 1-9
The study shall continue by mentioning some of the people who are hospitable in the Bible and the outcome of their hospitality.
Examples of Hospitable people
There are many hospitable people in the Bible, and we shall begin with Abraham who is a friend of God due to his faith and hospitality James 2: 23.
Abraham: Abraham entertained three men without knowing that they were angels of the Lord. After they were refreshed, they asked for Sarah and one of them put the seal on the promise of God in her life saying, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son”. Though, Sarah did not believe because she has passed the menopause age.
Truly, Sarah had Isaac the following year according to the word of the angel, because of the hospitality of Abraham her husband.
They also told Abraham their mission to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Though Abraham interceded and pleaded with the angels and they agreed that if they found ten righteous people in the land they will spare the city of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Abraham had the opportunity to intercede on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah because he was hospitable to the angels Genesis 18: 1-33. Brethren, do not fail to entertain strangers so that you will not miss/lose the opportunity to be hospitable to the people appointed by the Lord to transform your life.
Lot: Lot also accommodated and entertained the angels without knowing that the men were angels. This led to the salvation of his household before the city of Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed.
Lot’s wife disobeyed the instructions of the angels that stated “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed”. She looked back and she became a pillar of salt Genesis 19: 1-26. The lives of Lot’s household were spared because of hospitality with the exception of his wife that looked back.
Laban: Laban entertained Abraham’s servant sent to get wife for Isaac his son. The servant was accommodated, and Rebekah was released to him so that she can marry Isaac Genesis 24: 29-41.
Laban: Laban the brother of Rebekah, was hospitable to Israel his nephew. The Lord blessed Laban and his household beyond their imagination because of the hospitality shown to Jacob called Israel Genesis 30: 25-28.
Jethro: Jethro the priest of Midian was hospitable to Moses and he gave Zipporah his daughter to Moses as wife. Due to his hospitality, he shared out of the fame of Moses one of the greatest prophets who ever lived on earth Exodus 2: 16-22.
Manoah: Manoah was hospitable to a man that delivered a message to his wife without knowing that the man was an angel of the Lord. His wife later conceived and gave birth to Samson, the strongest man to ever walk on the surface of the earth Judges 13: 2-20. Be hospitable to people so that your reproaches will turn to glory just like Manoah’s wife.
The Shunammite woman: The Shunammite woman was always hospitable to Prophet Elisha. Elisha prayed for her because she had no child and her husband was old. He said “About this time next year you shall embrace a son” and it came to pass. The woman conceived and bore a son according to the word of Elisha.
Then the son died, and Elisha woke him up 2 Kings 4: 8-35. If you want to realize your goals, be hospitable to people, and if you want everything that is spiritually dead in your life to resurrect, let hospitality be your watchword.
Zacchaeus: Zacchaeus received eternal salvation because of his desire to see our Lord Jesus Christ and his hospitality. Since he was short in stature, he climbed a sycamore tree; when Jesus Christ got to the spot, he looked up and said to him “Zacchaeus make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house” Luke 19: 1-6. If you want eternal salvation be hospitable to people.
Finally beloved, it is fine and faithful work that you are doing whenever you render service to the brethren in the Lord and most especially when they are strangers. Every time you extend hospitality to Christian brothers and sisters, even when they are strangers, you make you faith visible. They will give report to the church wherever they are worshipping about the love and the hospitality that they received 3 John 1: 5-6. Remember that you are being faithful to God, whenever you care for the traveling Christians who pass through your location, even if they are strangers, they will tell the church of your loving friendship which will edify the faith of believers and win more souls into the kingdom of God.
The Seal: Job 31: 32: But no sojourner had to lodge in the street, for I have opened my doors to the travelers/strangers.