Biblical Hospitality: Do I Need to Treat Strangers with Hospitality?
“Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!” (Hebrews 13:2 NLT).
Make Room for People
Look, I get it.
Sometimes, I don’t want to talk to people. Sometimes, I don’t even feel like I have a smile to share!
Sometimes, all I want to do is curl up on my couch and see nobody for days or weeks at a time! (And yes, let’s not forget, there is a sacredness to rest! But that’s for another week.)
In this age of screens and profiles, it’s easy to miss people. We’re so used to having our noses in our technology rather than looking others in the eye. And especially strangers!
How many people have you passed on by without saying a single word? Even closer to home—how many people have you passed by at church without saying a single word?
How many times have you refused to be kind and welcoming because you were too tired or too busy?
It’s easy to make every excuse in the world: “They didn’t look like they wanted to talk to anyone.” “I’m just too busy to connect!” And when we get to know them even a little bit: “Oh, they’re too chatty.” “I just don’t get them.”
Put Others Before Yourself
Abraham and Sarah certainly had every excuse under the sun not to host and be friendly. When three strangers showed up in the desert heat, Abraham and Sarah were entirely unprepared. But instead of saying, “Sorry! We just don’t have time,” Abraham sprinted to offer water and encouraged them to rest a while and then feast. Sarah kneaded bread for them like it was a cardio workout. They laid out the red carpet for these unannounced strangers.
As it turned out, those strangers were angels, and Abraham and Sarah earned a divine five-star review.
“Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!” (Hebrews 13:2 NLT).
Is it possible you’ve passed by angels without realizing it? Is it possible you’ve hosted angels without realizing it?
Treat People as You Would Jesus
Jesus Himself told us, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40 ESV). Earlier in the chapter, He even lists examples: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me” (Matthew 25:35-36 ESV).
In your everyday interactions, are you treating others like you would treat Jesus? Or have you gotten a little caught up in the “me, me, me” culture?
If you began to picture Jesus and angels hiding everywhere, would your attitude change? Would you begin to see people in a new light? Would you make more of an effort? In each interaction, we are called to be intentional. No matter what, each person we pass is a child of God! And how we treat His children directly reflects the heart of the Father.
Jesus is everywhere, in every single stranger. And it’s about time we started acting like it!
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Cathe Laurie is the founder and director of the Virtue women’s ministry. She is also a featured speaker on The Virtue Podcast, at Harvest events, and the author of As I See It. You can find her weekly articles here on harvest.org.
