Hospitality
“Use hospitality one to another without grudging”
(1 Pet. 4:9, KJV)
The first members of the church enjoyed peace for a short time before being scattered. Luke wrote, “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). It was under these trying times of great persecution that some Christians lost their mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, friends, and even their homes. Men like Saul of Tarsus were casting Christian men and women into prison and even putting them to death (Acts 9:1-2). Peter commanded Christians to “use hospitality one to another without grudging”(I Pet. 4:9). His words were written to a people who were suffering for their faith in Christ.
Hospitality is that Christian trait which says, “you are welcome as a guest in my home if you are in need”. Christians are told to ‘contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality” (Rom. 12:13, ESV). Elders in the Lord’s church are told to be ‘given to hospitality’ (I Tim. 3:2) The Lord’s church is a family, and as such, we should seek to be hospitable to one another whenever there is a true need.
