Page 12 - May 2022 - Truth & Tidings

Practicing Hospitality the lame, the blind …” (vv13-14). So, while
Our Intentionality our natural inclination is to invite family
True hospitality is not an accident. Yes, and friends, the Lord challenges us to go
out of our comfort zone and invite those
we can provide food and a place to stay we do not know, those in other cultures,
for unexpected visitors. However, the em- those from different socio-economic lev-
phasis in the teachings of the Lord Jesus els, and those with special needs.
is more on proactive planning. He spoke
repeatedly of “them that were bidden to Our Investment
the wedding” (Mat 22:3,4,8). Likewise, in The Savior related in the Parable of
1
the Parable of the Great Supper, He spoke the Great Supper that the servants were
about “when they are bidden” or “when to announce, “Come; for all things are
thou art bidden” (Luk 14:7,8,10,17,24). now ready” (v17). The host had invested
Therefore, hospitality involves intention- his money and worked to prepare the
ality and planning. food. Another more extreme example is
Our Invitees the Good Samaritan. That man not only
The Lord also recognized that hospital- packed oil and wine to serve others, but he
provided long-term care for the man who
ity can be a manipulative tool. He said, had been mistreated. In both parables the
“When thou makest a dinner or a sup- hosts made sacrifices and invested in oth-
per, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, ers. In so doing, they displayed the kind
neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neigh- and caring heart of Christ. And that is an
bours; lest they also bid thee again, and a investment worth making.
recompence be made thee” (Luk 14:12).
Hospitality should never be used as a Perspectives on Hospitality
means to obligate others to include us in His Evaluation
their events. It is solely to be a means by Zacchaeus in Jericho, Martha in Betha-
which we help and bless others. So the ny, Peter’s mother-in-law in Capernaum,
question is: Are we willing to invite folks and an unnamed homeowner in Jerusalem
who cannot repay us or invite us over? were some of the privileged few who had
The Lord went on to say, “But when thou the Lord Jesus for a meal. So since He
makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, is not physically present on earth any-

¹ All Scripture quotations in this article are from more, does that mean we are relegated to
the KJV unless otherwise noted. second-class hospitality opportunities?

140 TRUTH kTidings May 2022