These two words comprised one of the shortest sentences in the Bible I read as a young man. The New International Version translation of Romans 12:9-13 read as follows:
” Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
In some respects, the inclusion of the period that separates need from practice makes it difficult to truly come to grips with what this scripture calls us to do. The English Standard Version does better with “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”
What is clear from Paul’s original is that “hospitality” and the “needs of the saints” are connected. When we separate hospitality from the needs of God’s people, we end up with an idea of hospitality that tends to imply dinner parties for our friends or hosting a small group. To be sure, these are hospitable things! But they are not what this text exhorts us to practice.
In the ancient world, from the days of Abraham and Lot straight through to the days of Paul, hospitality implied sharing food and lodging with those who had neither. Hospitality is what Abraham offered his visitors in Genesis 18:1-8 and what Lot provided for the angels in Genesis 19:1-4. And speaking of angels, Hebrews 13:2 tells us “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” In this last case, hospitality is further defined by the word “entertained.” In its ancient context, to be entertained did not simply mean “to be amused for a while.” It meant to be hosted as a guest!
Hospitality is a rigorous, thoroughgoing placement of oneself at the disposal of others according to their needs. It is not for the faint of heart. But it is for every Christian to practice – to ‘press on,’ or, ‘to go running after.’[1]
Too often, instead of connecting hospitality to the needs of others, we connect it to our own availability, convenience, or comfort level. Questions like, “Is my house clean?” or “Am I good at entertaining people?” are fair questions to ask. BUT! If someone is hungry, troubled, or lonely, you may be sure that your house is in fact clean enough, you are company enough, and you are not too busy!
‘Running after’ hospitality means not simply sharing with the needs of God’s people; it involves helping them in and with their needs. Practicing hospitality is in a very real sense no more or less than carrying one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).
Let’s go running after opportunities to offer our fridges, couches, homes, and time to those who need them.
Your Pastor,
Bob Bjerkaas
[1] The Greek word for practice is translated ‘press on’ in Philippians 3:12 and 14, and ‘go running after’ in Luke 17:23.
N.B. The artwork is Abraham and the Three Angles, by Josse Leiferinxe, c. 1495. This oil on wood panting captures the scene of Genesis 18:1-8. It is hosted online by the Denver Museum of Art.