There is a saying: “My home is my castle.” And indeed, in our world there are special territories—a special world in which every person has a private sphere of habitation, a dwelling where one feels at home. There are many places I can enter freely. But I have no right to enter private property without asking or receiving a special invitation. When someone invites me to visit, I experience a special blessing as I enter another person’s private space.
Invitations are of different kinds. They may be for business, acquaintance, or friendship; with or without a meal; for a short time or for an extended stay. All this depends upon the situation and status involved.
There have been different occasions in my life when, after spontaneously traveling to a worship service in another city, I did not know what I would do when it ended. I simply waited to see what the Lord would offer me and how He would arrange my time. I have grown accustomed to the fact that the situation may unfold in different ways, and therefore I try to expect that, after receiving the blessing of the believers’ gathering, I will return home and spend the rest of the day there. Yet somewhere deep in the heart there is an aching loneliness from feeling that no one is interested in you, that no one needs or notices you. The larger the gathering, the greater the likelihood that you will remain alone.
Many times I have witnessed unfamiliar people or guests from other cities come to our church as well. After the worship service ended, they silently waited for someone to show them attention, and after receiving only a polite handshake from church members, they departed alone. Each time I felt an aching sorrow for these people because no one had shown interest in them, and they left God’s house without the prospect of friendly fellowship in a close circle of new acquaintances.
In the past, when my wife was in the church, we knew that on the coming Sabbath we would have guests or would visit someone else. Now no one can enter our home under any pretext, and it is impossible to reconcile oneself to this. But the most terrible thing is that one grows accustomed to it. All my friends know that the way into my home is closed to them forever, but they often invite me to their homes so that at least there we can have fellowship. It is always such a joy to enter the private space of friends and bring them a blessing, while dreaming that someday my own home will also become hospitable and open to someone.
The Word of God teaches us that love for strangers—that is, hospitality—is an inseparable part of the culture of a believer. Among many peoples and cultures, it is still honored as something sacred and obligatory. The modern lifestyle in many countries has destroyed this good tradition, and loneliness, while reaping an abundant harvest of mental illness, has become the norm of our time.
If a believer can find comfort in solitude through prayer and by watching or reading spiritual material, what are those who do not know God to do? Television and the internet cope very well with the problem of loneliness, but they do not carry the blessings of personal contact with another person or friend.
Love is hospitable. It knows how to express itself in this language. Love is able to extend and accept invitations, carrying a blessing wherever it awaits guests or is itself received. Love understands the structure of life in religiously mixed families where one spouse does not wish to invite any believers into the home. But love can invite them to its own home.
I know many stories and situations in which the spirit of hospitality kindled a Divine fire in people, awakening interest and thirst for a deeper knowledge of God. And how many believers came to Christ through the hospitality of God’s children? Only Eternity will reveal the power and influence of this language of love.
It is precisely through fellowship with those near me—by visiting their homes or inviting them into mine—that I discover opportunities to know a person more closely and allow that person to know me. Very often, through the spirit of hospitality, we become very close and dear friends.
There are, of course, exceptions that are very noticeable and bring no blessing. For example, a guest may use your kindness to satisfy an appetite or other needs while making it clear that you are of no interest as a person and are not needed as a friend. Although not everyone is like this, one such guest can damage the reputation of all fellow guests. But love seeks not its own and simply gives itself in every place, without depriving a person of wisdom and sound judgment.
My private space is that special place where my spirit receives a unique advantage in giving those near me the opportunity to know me as an unusual person. This opens ways for me to gain new friends very quickly and give them my love and friendship. What joy it is to enter the unknown world of a new friend and sow seeds of love there.
My life has included a great variety of visits, but not one of them has faded from memory. Each has been imprinted upon my consciousness forever, creating its own image and spiritual illustration of every home. There are always special people associated with something bright, delicious, and joyful. Whenever you meet such people, you are happy.
Jesus loved to accept invitations. We read that He never disdained the hospitality even of people with questionable reputations, which often provoked the displeasure of the spiritual leaders of that time. The Lord understood that such people possessed souls and hearts capable of opening to God’s grace and later becoming sources of abundant blessing to others. What was true then remains true today.
Once Jesus Himself invited Himself to the home of the publican Zacchaeus, greatly surprising and delighting him. The account of their meeting ended with this publican and his entire household becoming disciples of Christ and devoting their possessions to serving those near them.
Hospitality is a special spirit and a special power that opens many opportunities for good deeds.
The glory of God’s presence accompanies hospitable people, but not everyone understands this, and not every person uses hospitality for the glory of God.
Love speaks this language of love and, knowing the power of its influence, develops a strategy for capturing those near us in its nets.
I have often noticed that very hospitable and generous people do not become poorer through exercising these qualities. On the contrary, it seems that with every new guest they receive tremendous profit in other areas of life. There is something mysterious and supernatural in this.
Knowing that frequent guests usually place an additional burden upon the women who manage the home, I always try to acknowledge their labor and care through understanding and compliments and, when possible, to support them by bringing food of my own if I am invited in advance. What joy it is to be in a circle of friends, whether in their home or mine, sharing love and binding one another with ties of friendship so that these kind feelings toward those near us may always remain in the heart.
I have been told that churches in Canada have a system in which a list of all church members is prepared each year. This list records who will visit whom and when after the worship service. The schedule is then given to all members, who know in advance where they will be or who will come to them. It is an interesting idea. And God blesses such fellowship.
In the light of this lesson, please read 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:7–9; and 1 Peter 4:9. What did you understand from this lesson? Are you familiar with this language of love? Did you receive any new revelations while studying this subject? How do you understand Hebrews 13:2? What angels are meant in this verse? Is it worth inviting guests if you are unable to serve them an elaborate meal? How can you show hospitality if you are unable to invite a person into your home?