Using hospitality is something we do with people we like but with those who rub us wrong, it is a little more of grace.
1 Peter 4:9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
Hospitality – The act or practice of receiving and entertaining strangers or guests without reward, or with kind and generous liberality. – Webster’s 1828 Dictionary
Using Hospitality
Using hospitality is something we do with people we like but with those who rub us wrong, it is a little more of grace. We should not grudge or withhold hospitality to some just because we don’t like them. The world likes to have “clicks” or groups of people just like themselves and shun all outsiders. That is not the way God’s kingdom or church works. We are to love all the brethren and try and minister to each other. That is how people can tell we are Christians. When we love each other despite our differences, that shows there has to be something different about us. Only the Holy Ghost living inside us can produce that kind of love. Hospitality is more than just entertaining other people. It is doing it without expecting anything in return. We need to try and help those who cannot help us back. The mentality of “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” is not the way the Christian should think. Sometimes we get attitudes and think we deserve to be treated better than we are. The reality is we should be in hell today.
No Grudging
We should never grudge or hold back trying to be a blessing to others. We should generous or liberal in the giving of our love for others. That takes overcoming the flesh. Grudging is saying “why did I waste money and time on this person or that person.” It is never a waste of time or money giving to people God tells you to. Yes, people are going to take advantage of you or not appreciate what you do, but that is not on you. You need to give hospitality not to others, but rather give it as if you are giving it to the Lord. It will never return void or be a waste of time if you give in that manner. There is noting to be ashamed of when we give to others when the Lord tells us to and then they later turn on the Lord and us. Paul was “spent” many a time when he gave to others. He was glad to spend and be spent because he was doing it unto the Lord. You can have hospitality without grudging if and only if you give as if you are giving to the Lord. He never will fail to reward you in this life or the next.
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