While reading the Bible this morning, I came across a passage of scripture
that really made me think. Of course, all scripture should get our brain
wheels rolling, but I especially like it when the Word of God makes me
check my motives, don't you? Then it gets my heart wheels rolling! For
instance, how important is position and title in your circle of relationships?
Maybe you'll answer that it is of no importance at all to you. Or is it...
Turn with me to Luke 14 and let's read verses 12-14 which say:
"Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or
a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen,
nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again; and a recompense
be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed,
the
lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense
thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just."
At our church, in place of visitation on the first Thursday of every month,
we have what is called "Family Fellowship Night". This is where every
family invites another family over for dinner, making sure that no one
is without a place to go. There are several reasons why my husband decided
to put this practice into place. One, so that our families could learn
to exercise hospitality one toward another. Two, so that a more intimate
type of ministering could take place rather than just the surface kind
during fellowship time at church. Three, so that a spirit of unity and
family would be present within our church. It has been a great blessing
and the results have been rewarding. Of course, every month we are all
faced with the decision of deciding on who to invite
into our homes. This also is a lesson in itself....
Why do I say that? Because we are continually faced with the very issue
that our verses today are pointing out! What God's people have to be careful
of, whether your church has a program such as this or not, is extending
a false hospitality. Such was the case on the occasion described here
in Luke 14 when a leader of the Pharisees invited Jesus to dinner....
Of course, Jesus was fully aware of what was in men's hearts just as He
is fully aware of what is in our hearts today and in our reasons for the
guests we choose to come into our home - or don't choose! How important
would the Savior say position, title or status symbols are to you in your
social circle? Certainly, Jesus would be an intimidating person to sit
with at a meal, for He would know our very hearts and thoughts the entire
time, amen?
What would your guests think of your reasons, your attitude for inviting
them into your home if they could do the same? Would the dinner be more
comfortable or extremely uncomfortable if this were the case? Jesus was
invited on this particular occasion simply to be watched and then later
criticized..... Ladies, I hope we are not guilty of such behavior when
extending hospitality to others! Is your table set with truth or as a
trap?? How much sweeter our fellowship is when truth is served before,
during and after the meal, amen? False hospitality is not an expression
of the love and grace that God would expect us to extend to one another!
Romans 12:13, "Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality."
In extending hospitality, it's not us that should be the focus, but others....
First of all, our scripture today warns us about only entertaining those
that are comfortable to entertain. Those we know well, those that will
be fun to be with, those that won't require any extra in-depth conversation
or late night ministering, those that we know will help us clean up or
won't stay too late, those that we want to show off our new china to or
impress with our newly remodeled kitchen. In essence, it becomes nothing
more than a "mutual admiration society." Ladies, there are many ways in
which we are guilty of false hospitality and our church social life fits
this description more often than not! Bet you didn't think of it that
way, did you? How many times have you waited to invite someone over after
everything was perfect so that you would receive some admiration, some
praise? How many times have you known this is the very reason you have
not yet been invited as a guest into other homes? Maybe you are saving
up for that special item you feel will impress someone and purchasing
that new item becomes cause for celebration as you invite guests to come
and see and admire what you now have. Perhaps you want to prove to others
that you ARE a "Proverbs 31 Woman" so you work like a dog all day cooking
and baking recipes you know will bring you praise all night long, leaving
the other woman feeling inadequate or less capable at hostessing. That's
not distributing to the necessity of the saints, that's seeking to please
yourself! Do you try to outdo one another with elaborate recipes?? What
a shame when we as Christians are only trying to rise above or impress
one another with a fancier tea cup collection or even our godly habits!
Have you ever invited the pastor and his family over just so that they
could observe and marvel over the condition of your home and the wonderful
behavior of your children and be impressed with your godliness and knowledge
of scripture? Or maybe you've invited him simply so you could examine
him and pick him apart like a bone
after he and his family leaves... If any of these motives exist in our
hearts, we aren't using our hospitality for the right reasons!
Romans 12:9, "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil;
cleave to that which is good."
Ladies, our motive for sharing must be for the praise of God and not for
the applause of men! Look for no recompense... We are told by the Lord
that we are blessed when we invite those who cannot pay us back, those
who cannot bring anything to the table but their handicaps. Have you invited
anyone like that into your home lately? Someone who is too blind to notice
your expensive tea cups? Someone who is too lame to keep up with the Joneses?
Someone who is too poor to return the favor and cook as elaborately as
you? Someone whose life is so maimed by sin that you have decided you
didn't want them seated at your table and in your presence? I hope that
needy people are at the top of our list of guests to invite into our homes!
If our hearts are right they will be, amen? And if our hearts are right,
God will also see to it that we are properly rewarded... You see, when
we serve others from unselfish hearts, we are laying up for ourselves
treasures in Heaven! We will be rewarded one day... In the meantime, allow
God to change your focus from profit and loss to sacrifice and service,
won't you? Let's forget about competing with one another and think more
about how to complete one another, instead, amen?
Remember, Christ is the unseen guest at every meal, the silent listener
to every converstion! May what takes place in your home be pleasing to
Him.
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000
Pamela A. Iannello
