Overcoming Excuses

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It's hard for people to believe we want them in heaven if we don't want them in our living room.

Ralph W. Neighbor Jr. | posted 7/12/1998

Topics:	Guests, Hospitality, Host, Meeting, Preparation, Service
Filters:	Host, Start
Purpose:	Ministry
References:	Romans 12:13 , Hebrews 13:2 , 1 Peter 4:9
Date Added:	July 12, 1998

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"Practice hospitality" (Romans 12:13).

"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling" (1 Peter 4:9).

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it" (Hebrews 13:2).

The story of Lot inviting strangers (actually angels) into his house and protecting them from the mob outside his door is a clear example from Scripture of how important hospitality was, and is, in the Middle East. But it’s really no different for followers of God in our current culture (except for the burning sulfur.) We have been given clear commands from the New Testament that hospitality is considered a very important gift to give, whether to those known or unknown. To some, this comes easier than others.

Below are a few excuses people often use to avoid offering hospitality.

"But it's a mess!"

Don’t worry unnecessarily about how your house looks. A plaque my mom hung in our home said, “An immaculate house is the sign of a sick mind.” While that may or may not be true, most people come to visit you, not look at your house.

While tidying up may be necessary if your cell group needs a place to sit or path to walk through, most people don’t expect perfection. Remember, if your house looks differently when guests are over than it does when they aren’t, you may be falling into the deception that you should look a certain way in front of certain people. Jesus called this hypocrisy.

"It's not big enough."

In our Western culture, nothing ever is. We have the idea that if everybody doesn’t have a two-foot box of air on each side of them, they are crowded. While we must still deal with our culture, we should learn to be grateful for the space we do have. Remember, “If the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12).

"I don't know how to act when people come over."

Then don’t try to fake it. Try to think of them as family. Most people really appreciate it when you invite them to be as comfortable as you want to be when you’re home alone.

Model this with the way you dress (take your shoes off), the language you use or don’t use (none of this “It was good of you to come over”), and perhaps even the posture you take—though laying down and hogging the couch might not be wise.

"What about their children? I'm afraid they'll break something."

Anything you have that can be broken is probably temporal and of this earth. While it may be very valuable—either sentimentally or monetarily—it is not going to heaven with you. We must learn to release our possessions to God and allow him to safeguard them for us. If it is too important for you to lose, put it away. If something does get broken, replace, repair, or forget about it. It’s probably not worth ruining a friendship over. Right?

Portions of this article were adapted from Common Ground, Vol. 13. #7, Search Ministries, Ellicott City, MD

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Renee

September 30, 2009 12:33pm

This is an excellent article! In our first small group a couple that lived in student housing hosted a meeting. It was so small that we literally had to sit shoulder to shoulder, but was one of our most memorable evenings ever! Since then I have never let anyone use "my house is too small" as an excuse. Can you imagine how small the houses of the first century were? When my husband and I started hosting I used to be a nervous wreck, but I did it out of obedience. Over time it has gotten much easier and more enjoyable. It's sad that our modern American culture is so inhospitable, even in the church. But it really is possible to grow in this area--I did!

Anonymous

September 21, 2009 12:30pm

Wonderful I often feel a bit self conscious about peope more affluent than myself. The bible does say render your heart and not your garments/house.