Eld Chew Chong Kiat

Romans 12:13b...given to hospitality.

Israel was God’s light in the world. God gave His laws to guide His people, called by His Name, to shine for Him, and one of the laws concerns how they are to relate to strangers. “And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” (Lev 19:33-34)

Israel was to remember how they were vexed as slaves in Egypt and that they were not to do the same when they possessed the Promised Land but to love strangers. The church replaced Israel as the light and God wants every member of His body to be “given to hospitality”. To be hospitable means to love strangers. To be “given” describes one who runs after something to catch it. In other words, God expects us to be zealous and to strive to be hospitable to strangers.

A good example is shown by Lot in Genesis 19:1-3.  He arose to meet the guests when he saw them afar off and greeted them very humbly, and when the guests would not accept the offer “he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.” Often strangers do not want to impose and inconvenience anyone when they visit. But we should be more forward, eager and earnest than they are to receive. Abraham likewise showed great hospitality to the three strangers in Genesis 18.

Most people know how to be hospitable to their family, friends and especially VIPs. But to strangers, they take not much interest. These ought not to be the attitude of God’s people. We are taught in Hebrews 13:1-2 “Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” The motive to hospitality should be Christ’s love. Let this love continue; maintain it and do not allow it to diminish. We are not to be forgetful, i.e. to allow the matter of showing hospitality to be loosed from the mind, neglected, or uncared for. Are we guilty of that?  

A great incentive to be hospitable is “thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”  What an honour and blessing it is to have such guests which far exceed any sacrifice involved! Just imagine what could have happened if Abraham and Lot had turned the angels away? Lot could have lost his life together with his two daughters. Abraham could have missed the promise of God to give him a seed and the opportunity to intercede on behalf of Lot and family in Sodom. It is more blessed to give than to receive and so it is in hospitality. How often the family was blessed by the presence of guests in the godly discourse and the examples shown in hospitality. Considering the similarity of how Lot and Abraham showed hospitality, it is very likely that Lot learnt how to show hospitality from his uncle when he lived with him.

Children may also learn from their parents love in hospitality and follow in this good work. A note of caution here is that we must not show hospitality because of the “reward” of blessings, but it must be the love of Christ that constrains us as mentioned above. We know that strangers may not reciprocate kindness with kindness. We will probably not see them again. They might not be thankful or grateful, but for the love of Christ we pursue hospitality, i.e. the love for strangers.

1Peter 4:9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

Another command for every Christian to be hospitable is in 1Peter 4:9. The attitude in doing so is to be without grudging, which means to have no secret (un-avowed) displeasure. No one may know but God sees and knows. We must not do so out of necessity but cheerfully as unto the Lord. Matthew 25:40 says “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

Recall that we once were strangers to the Kingdom of God (Eph 2:19). We entered in through Jesus Christ as a new citizen and God sent “Barnabas-es” into our lives to introduce us to other members of the body of Christ and they received us and served us with their gifts and we were encouraged to serve them with our gifts. And soon, we were no longer strangers. God’s will is that we be hospitable to strangers to repeat this cycle. Are you one who will join in this ministry? That is one way the fellowships and church can grow in numbers. Many believe in the Lord, but how many belong? Why do they not belong? Is it because we have failed to show hospitality to one another? It is not a once off action, but a journey. Can the Lord count on you? Turning a stranger into one who will welcome other strangers?

1. Remember the visitors and newcomers to the church.
2. Remember the visiting missionaries and their families.
3. Remember the foreign students in FEBC in our church.

This is a good work that we all can do and provoke one another to love and good works. We can cleave to such good works and be given to it for Jesus’ sake. Let’s love our neighbour as ourselves, remembering that we once were strangers to God but are now children of God. Amen.