[Friday's Devotional] - Hospitality

I wonder if your Christmas card list is anything like ours – how many people are on your list who you haven’t seen for years (perhaps even 10 or more?).  These people are friends; we have a shared past and mutual respect and affection.  If they arrived on our doorstep unannounced would we be pleased to see them or horrified that we didn’t know they were coming and hadn’t had time to tidy up and prepare a meal?

 

Hospitality is a spiritual gift but it seems to be going out of fashion.  When was the last time you invited someone to join you for Sunday lunch or an evening meal?  Many of us have the desire to be hospitable but we rarely make space in our busy schedule for the desire to be put into practice.  How often have you had a 10 minute conversation standing in your hallway (or the hallway of someone you have called on) – not keen to offer (or be offered) a drink and a seat because that would interrupt your schedule too much. 

 

I am struck by the contrast of my visits to Beira in Mozambique – in Africa, where the clock is not king of every second of the day, there is time to sit down, have a drink and conversation because nobody is paranoid about keeping to a schedule.  I fear we have lost something vital to our happiness and well-being, in the quest for efficiency and the busyness that goes with it.  Perhaps we are becoming too isolated and not doing all we can to foster community?

 

After the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, there was an abundance of the gift of Hospitality:

 

Everyone was amazed by the many miracles and wonders that the apostles worked.  All the Lord's followers often met together, and they shared everything they had.  They would sell their property and possessions and give the money to whoever needed it.  Day after day they met together in the temple.  They broke bread together in different homes and shared their food happily and freely, while praising God.  Everyone liked them, and each day the Lord added to their group others who were being saved.

Acts 2:43-47 [CEV]

 

Hospitality is good for us and those we meet – sharing is efficient and friendly.  People who eat together and share food with others are likeable.  Perhaps we need to ask for the gift of Hospitality so the Lord will add each day more to our group?

 

Lord, help us to be hospitable, sharing, happy and popular.  Let us not hold back from giving what we have and others need.  Amen.    

 

Dave MacLellan
(first published in 2008)