PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies); ND/HD (Journalism); Dip,
BA (Theology) MA, PhD.
THE BIBLE AND HOSPITALITY
Presented by: Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu
Devotional
Text: Hebrews 13:1-3
Introduction:
The Apostle John in one of his epistles
recommends and encourages hospitality when he says, “Dear friend, you are
faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though, they are
strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. You will do well
to send them on their way in a manner worthy of GOD. It is for the sake of the
NAME {of the LORD} that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We
ought, therefore, to show hospitality to such men, so that we may work together
for the truth”,{3John 5-8}. By way of agreement, the Apostle Peter says, we
should offer hospitality to one another without grumbling,{1Peter 4:9}, as the
Apostle Paul admonishes further that, we should “share with GOD’S people who
are in need”, in the spirit of hospitality”,{Rom. 12:13}.
GENERAL
REMARKS
(1)
Like Gaius,
our hospitality should be extended to the ministers of GOD, and to the whole
church,{Rom. 6:23}
(2)
We should
learn to offer hospitality to strangers who serve the LORD,{3 John 5-8}
(3)
Our
hospitality must be without grumbling,{1Peter 4:9}
(4)
We must
extend our hospitality to all strangers, believers and non-believers
alike,{Heb. 13:2}
HOSPITALITY AS A CHRISTIAN WAY OF
LIFE
Hospitality is one’s demonstration of
kindness to visitors. It is equally being friendly, welcoming, and the generous
treatment one offers to guests or strangers. And, the believer, in CHRIST, by
biblical standards, should be hospitable. To this end, GOD’s WORD urges that,
we should not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing, we may entertain
angels, without knowing it, (Heb. 13:2), as it stresses that our “love must be
sincere, hating what is evil, but clinging to what is good, as well as devote
to one another in brotherly love, as it further enjoins that we should learn to
share with GOD’S people who are in need, as a way of demonstrating our
hospitality, {Rom. 12:9-13}. And, without mincing words, a Christian who is not
hospitable carries no convincing proof of his Christian faith, for JESUS CHRIST
our LORD and BLESSED SAVIOUR is the grand example of hospitality, which HE
demonstrated, when HE fed HIS five thousand {Matt. 14:14-21} and four thousand
{Matt. 15:2-39} crusade guests,
respectively. This, therefore, shows that:
i)
The SPIRIT
of CHRIST is the SPIRIT of hospitality, {vs. 14-21; 29-39}
ii)
Hospitality
is one of the marks of true Christians, {3 John 5-8}
iii)
Our
hospitality should target strangers, those in prison, and the mistreated
persons, {Heb. 13:2-3}
FATHER ABRAHAM AND HOSPITALITY
Abraham is biblically confirmed as the father
of the Christian faith {Gal. 3:6-9}, who is outstandingly known for his
hospitality. The Holy Scripture reveals that GOD was entertained by Abraham,
when it says that “the LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre
while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day.
Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby, … and said, “if I have
found favour in your eyes, MY LORD, do not pass your servant by… let me get you
something to eat, so that you can be refreshed and then go on your way”… “Very
well, they answers, do as you said… so, Abraham prepared and brought some curds
and milk… he had prepared, and set these before them…”{Gen. 18:1-8}. And, no
doubt, the above narrative of Abraham’s hospitality remains the basic reason
why GOD’S WORD says, “We should not forget to entertain strangers, for we may
entertain angels unawares,” {Heb. 13:2}. Now, notice that, it was after
Abraham’s demonstration of hospitality to the LORD that HE revealed it was HIS
time to fulfil HIS promise to him {Gen. 18:10-13}, as well as, revealed HIS
plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah {vs. 15-20}, which, therefore, implies that
hospitality:
(i)
Brings GOD’s
blessings to one who offers it, {Gen. 18:10}
(ii)
Opens up
ways for the fulfilment of GOD’S promises, {vs. 16-17}.
(iii)
Reveals
GOD’S secret plan to those who offer it , [vs. 16-17.
HOSPITALITY AND MEMBERS OF THE
CHRISTIAN CHURCH
The testimony of the hospitality of Brother
Gaius, which the Apostle Paul and the whole church enjoyed, is a model of the
hospitality to be practised in the church of the LIVING GOD, {Rom. 16:23}. In
the church under review, there was free flow of hospitality, which tends to
attend to everyone’s need, ministers and non-ministers alike, without any form
of inhibition from the presiding minister, as it is the case in some Christian
denominations today. Here, the Apostle Paul and Brother Gaius share in the
commendation of being men of unrestricted love and passion, who understand that
what affects a member of the church affects others, as the notable message in
this unit of the lesson is that, it is wrong to be greedy in the affairs of the
church of GOD, which is the habit of certain General overseers and other high ranking
officers of the present day church, who monopolise the hospitality of the
privileged ones to themselves and members of their families, at the expense of
other members of the church. And so, this lesson, by this, indicates that
(i)
It is wrong
for a minister of the gospel to stop the hospitality of the privileged ones
from reaching others, {Rom.16:23}
(ii)
The
hospitality of the privileged ones in the church should be allowed to reach
everybody
in
the church, {vs. 23}
(iii)
Everybody in
the church should learn to be hospitable, as a way of meeting the basic needs
of every member of the church, {vs. 23}
In
conclusion, please note
once again that the concept of hospitality as one’s kindness to visitors or
guests carries a limitation, since hospitality could be extended to members of
one’s family, church, and community, who
are not strangers or visitors, as it is the case of Brother Gaius, {Rom.
16:23}. Be it as it may, the foremost heart-warming benefit of hospitality is
that it promotes love, togetherness and even distribution of GOD’s blessing in
church and society. PLEASE, BE
HOSPITABLE!
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