In Galatians 5:22-23, we are given a list of the fruits of the Spirit. They are the guidelines to which we conduct ourselves in our daily walk. These are nine different aspects of Godliness that we must adhere to, to live to our fullest spiritual potential. They vary slightly, depending on the translation, but the foundational fruits of the Spirit are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. While at first glance, these all look the same, a closer look reveals small differences in their meanings, which translates to differences in their application and implementation. This article is meant to shed light on each of these nine characteristics of holiness, to explore their nuances and minute differences. Hospitality falls under the category of kindness.
Hospitality
What is it? What does it look like? The modern definition for this word is most often linked to the services of hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts, and the like. But, what does this word really mean? How do we apply it? And, is there a Scriptural model?
The dictionary describes hospitality in the following way:
- the friendly reception and treatment of guests or strangers.
- the quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way.
The keywords are friendly, reception, and strangers.
To operate in the action of showing friendliness,
we must not be harsh, hateful, manipulating,
spiteful, or a host of other words that could
be described as the opposite of friendly.
To be receptive, we must be able to
receive something. For a person who
is used to giving, receiving might be a
little hard for them.
And, finally, the crux of the whole verse.
Strangers. We are supposed to treat strangers
as if they were our friends, before they actually
become our friends. This is the foundation of
loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.
If we are to operate in the gift of hospitality, we must have these three
ingredients for it to work. Otherwise, we are show ourselves to be insincere,
conceited, and coldhearted towards others.
Yeshua answered, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, 'Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.' Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?" He said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." Luke 10:30-37
The story of the “Good Samaritan” is probably the best example of hospitality in Scripture. The interesting thing about the Scriptural definition of a neighbor is that it is not limited to who lives next door. It does not mean who is geographically close to you. It is those who you let know that you care for their well-being, no matter their situation or circumstance.
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