How I Experienced Hospitality at its Best

It was a Sunday morning and after the worship service ended, my husband left church to visit a friend that was in the hospital (out of town). 

That meant that I would need a ride home. I thought of asking a friend who lives close to me, but she didn't sit in her usual place (down the isle from us). Instead, another friend sat next to us, who usually sits elsewhere. So after the service ended, I asked Myrian if she could take me home. She was happy to do so. 

We left the church and made the short five-minute trip to my house. But, I didn't get out of the car immediately because we had been engaged in conversation which now continued in the parked car in front of my house. In fact, we continued to talk for about an hour in Myrian's car. 

All this time, I was being nudged by the Holy Spirit to invite Myrian into my house, which wasn't in perfect condition - it looked lived in. But I just continued on with our conversation until I had to go into the house to feed the dog. Even then, I didn't invite Myrian in (I'm ashamed to say!). 

Once in the house and after feeding the dog, I looked around the living room area of my home and it hit me. What was keeping me from welcoming in my friend? The house simply looked a little lived in. 

Besides, it was lunchtime and I had an opportunity to feed the hungry - that was both of us. But what could I serve my friend? And then I remembered the homemade soup - delicious at that - in the refrigerator from the day before. 

It was time for me to swallow my pride and obey the mandate given in Scripture to 

be hospitable. So back out to the car I went and finally asked Myrian to come in for lunch. She was delighted. 

I put the soup in a saucepan to heat and while it was heating, I set about to make a simple salad to serve alongside the soup. Next on the table - after pushing aside the papers that were occupying the space we needed for our soup bowls - was some wonderful artisan sourdough bread and butter. Finally, the table was ready with a savory and delicious repast - the perfect meal that Myrian and I needed to nourish our bodies and satisfy our hunger. 

We ate and continued to enjoy the sweet fellowship we have in Christ. What a precious time we had, encouraging one another, laughing and be nourished by the love of Christ as we ate the leftovers from the day before. I've never had a better meal! And what the Lord taught me through this joyful appointment was priceless. 

At that time, I had been reading a book called The Gospel Comes with a Housekey by Rosaria Butterfield. It was the testimony of how the Lord had redeemed Rosaria through a Christian family's ministry of hospitality to her. I had been convicted while reading the book for having had a worldly mentality when it came to opening my home to welcome others. Now the Lord was showing me the joy of welcoming others, prepared or not, into my home, perfect or not.

Through this sweet time with Myrian, I've come to realize that all the busyness and frenzy to get my home perfect for guests had limited me in welcoming others into my home. My home is not a museum nor is it the White House and it especially is not to be shut up to others when it's not perfect. 

We live in our home and it looks lived in. When I thought about that, it hit me that life happens in my home. Productivity via life creates a mess sometimes. And sometimes people come to my door before that mess is cleaned up. Do I typically invite them in? No. Instead. I'll step outside and casually visit with them on the front porch. 

But the Lord has provided a home that should be His first and foremost. If He truly lives here, He would never hesitate to warmly invite anyone who drops by to come inside, no matter what life has done to my house. 

For a welcome mat to be laid at my doorstep and yet nary a welcome extended by me is paramount to hypocrisy. It is anti-Christ! How stingy I've been with what I've always said belongs to Him. 

What blessings I've missed because of the mentality that my house must have a "photo-finish" look to it for a welcome to proceed from my mouth. And how enslaved I've made myself to the flurry of cleaning and polishing this place I call home before anyone can enter in. What I've actually done is to pamper and polish a house instead of loving and caring for others in the lived-in home I have been blessed to share with them.  

And for the very reason I call it home (not "house"), it should be a home, not just a house. There are phrases that express the meaning of home: "being at home" means for one to have a relaxed sense of well-being, to be able to let all the agitating aspects of life go and simply calm one's self in a peaceful state of mind. Should this benefit of my home be only for me? Would Jesus want me to invite others in to "be at home" here also? Would He want me to use my home as a vehicle to minister to those who are harassed by life?

This, I believe, is what happened when I invited Myrian into my lived-in home. That was true hospitality! It was not me entertaining guests. It was the Lord Jesus ministering to both of us as He used a little piece of earth on which a shelter had been erected in 1941 to calm us, to enjoy one another, to bring laughter and to remind ourselves of the kind "welcome" the Lord Jesus has extended to us. This truly was God's will being done on earth as it is in heaven. In fact, it was "heaven on earth"!

My earthly father used to tell us, his children, about the most welcoming family in the church that he attended growing up (where his own father was the pastor). 

This family was not only the most welcoming in the church, but they were also the most financially deprived family in the church. There was hardly anything of value in their home. The couch was old, threadbare and broken down. Yet folks visiting there sat on that couch with no hesitation because of the warm reception they received from this family. Their feeling at home there had nothing to do with the furniture. Rather it was the Christ-like hospitality extended to all who entered.  

There was a great deal of laughter and love in that little ramshackle house. As a child, my father loved visiting there. The joy inside the home was contagious. It was the healing and strengthening joy of the Lord shared by all who entered. This family truly used their home to bring glory to God. 

I do not know the name of those saints, but you can bet that they are with the Lord now and He's welcomed them into His eternal home with the words we all long to hear from Him, "Well done, my good and faithful servants...enter into the joy of your Master."

And those are the words I long to hear my Savior say me when I meet Him face to face. And it won't be because I entertained others in my sparkling clean museum of a home. It will be because I welcomed others as Christ has welcomed me. 

Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, welcome one another, just as Christ has welcomed you to the glory of God. (Romans 15:5-7)

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Sharon Kaufman

Jesus Christ has been my Savior since 1975. Robert, the wonderful man that God provided to love me has been my husband for 48 of those years. We have five grown children, with children of their own. Of course, that means that we have grandchildren - ten to be exact, and nine great-grandchildren with another one on the way. I have been a stay-at-home mom, sometimes helping to supplement the income from within the home. Now I am a stay-at-home grandmother. Jesus Christ has been my guide and keeper and I have found, in all the trials, heartbreaks and good times that He just keeps getting sweeter and sweeter as the years roll by. My future is secure and I look forward to eternity in the presence of my Creator, Redeemer and King.