A hospitable heart is something every Christian is called to develop. Did you know that hospitality is a character trait of God? It is defined as “the quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, and generous way.” The New Testament Greek word is “Philoxenia,” which means “love of strangers.”
The Bible tells us to be open and hospitable to strangers. Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” What He has graciously blessed us with, God desires us to use, opening our homes and our lives to the people around us. We may never entertain an angel, but we also have no idea what effect our hospitality might have on those we invite to a meal.
Hospitality from the Heart of God
The gift of God’s Son, Jesus, is the greatest example of God’s hospitality toward us. Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus …” God’s invitation to us gives us new and abundant life, freedom from sin, and the hope of eternity. It’s something we could never earn or afford. His expression of grace to us as sinners is the perfect picture of what hospitality should look like.
Likewise, when we invite people into our homes, we offer our friendship, acceptance, fellowship, and a testimony based on what God has done for us. It opens up the possibility of sharing His truth with those who gain an intimate look into our lives as believers. Whether or not our guests are fellow believers, it is an opportunity to minister to and bless them.
Godly Hospitality Demonstrates Love
God commands His people to be hospitable in both the Old and New Testaments. The first time we 
see this is in Leviticus 19:33-34, “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. 34 You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”
We are to love our guests as we love ourselves, the same idea carried forth in the New Testament in Matthew 22:37-39, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Just as the Jews were strangers in Egypt, the Gentiles are grafted into God’s family by grace. His reason for showing love to strangers is simply who He is: “I am the Lord your God.” Our purpose is to bring Him glory and honor.
Developing a Hospitable Heart
Hospitality proceeds from the very center of who God is and his commitment to the glory of His name. For His sake, we offer the grace we received from Him to those He places in our lives. Sharing what we’ve been blessed with, even if it’s small, honors the Lord.
Once we realize every person we meet is someone that Jesus loves and died to save, it changes our perspective. Yet we often hesitate to show hospitality to those who need it most. We hesitate to use our time, talents, possessions, and even ourselves to meet others’ needs. We find excuses to wait until we have better dining room furniture, more money, a clean house, or aren’t so tired and busy.
The Lord doesn’t ask us to be Martha Stewart with a perfectly decorated home and flawlessly prepared food. He only desires a hospitable heart, willing to share what He has given us. 1 Peter 4:9 says, “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
What We Have is Enough
In Matthew 14, we read the familiar story of the feeding of the 5,000. Notice that Jesus didn’t even have a home. He didn’t have the means to feed even a small number of the people who gathered to hear Him speak, yet He was gracious and hospitable to them. He anticipated their need, and the method He chose drew His disciples into the process, teaching them a lesson they would need later.
Opening our homes and sharing our company, our time, and a meal with others provides opportunities for our children to develop skills in sharing the gospel, handling conflict, and making sacrifices for others. It demonstrates that Jesus is alive and applicable to more than just Sunday mornings.
It’s not hard to find excuses to avoid inviting people over. Yet our perceived lack of money, time, suitable surroundings, or whatever reason we come up with, is no different than the disciples’ disdain for the five loaves and two fish. What we consider as not good enough is exactly what the Lord provided for us and desires us to share. Hospitality is something that we have to determine to do, no matter what.
A Hospitable Heart is Unique
Our hospitality doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. We can just be our unique selves— comfortable sharing what God has provided for us. All we need to offer is what we can comfortably provide with a cheerful heart and a big smile. When we do, we experience God’s power and enabling. We receive not only the joy of passing on what He has done for us, but also the blessing of having glorified our Father in heaven.
The early Christians, especially the apostles and missionaries such as Peter, Paul, and Silas, relied on the hospitality of their fellow believers to carry the gospel message to the known world. Our hospitality should be a selfless expression of our love. Offering our homes, food, and talents is a way to serve others without seeking to impress, network, or create obligations.
2 Corinthians 5:7 reminds us to “walk by faith, not by sight.” The Lord will do things we could never imagine when we invite people, whether fellow believers or unsaved friends, into our homes. God always blesses our obedience.
A Hospitable Heart Concentrates on Others
True hospitality isn’t about what we can gain, but what we can give. Ask yourself: who do you know who is lonely, hurting, or in need of encouragement? Who do you know who is incapable of reciprocating? Is there anyone you might bring together whose acquaintance might multiply their impact and further God’s kingdom? Who could benefit from your hospitality that the world thinks you, as a Christian, shouldn’t get along with?
Developing a selfless willingness to open our homes and lives creates opportunities to grow relationships with friends and neighbors. Being hospitable challenges us to be vulnerable and to make our home a safe place for those who need love, acceptance, encouragement, and Jesus. It enables us to be His hands and feet in a familiar and comfortable place. It allows unsaved family and friends to see that Christians are just regular people who face the same problems, but with a different solution.
Offering hospitality is never dull or boring. It’s always an adventure to see how God will work when we commit ourselves to honoring Him in our home and relationships and to making ourselves available, however God desires to use us.
Take a step of faith and open your heart. He will make whatever you have enough.
Hospitality demonstrates Christian love, which first came from God. But it also provides an opportunity to share the gospel. Christian homes should be the most welcoming on the block, and not “what are those kids doing on my lawn?” kind of home.