Have you ever found yourself wondering how to practice Biblical hospitality but not being sure how or feeling confident about it?

You are not alone.

Biblical hospitality an area many Christians, especially women, struggle to understand and really implement.

We desire to serve and love others and dream of hosting small groups and Bible studies in our Pinterest-worthy, perfectly decorated homes but sometimes we get caught up in perfecting the space we’re inviting people into that we lose focus on the people and the purpose for Biblical hospitality.

When my husband and I first started leading small groups through our church, we lived in a little 2 bedroom apartment. I remember feeling like our space wasn’t good enough to invite others into. It wasn’t big and it wasn’t fancy. (Also, it was up 4 flights of stairs with no elevator).

I found myself comparing my home to the homes of others that I had been invited to and I let doubt creep into my heart and mind. This doubt was so strong, it almost kept me from being obedient and inviting those people into my home anyway.

The biggest lesson I learned through that experience is that biblical hospitality is a posture of the heart, not about the perfection of a home or the host.

What is Biblical Hospitality?

Biblical hospitality can be defined as an invitation to step outside our comfort zones and offer provision, comfort, safety, and love to strangers and those in need. Often, this is inviting others into our homes and offering a safe place for them to feel the love of Jesus in our service and friendship.

It is offering relationship and belonging and provision to those who may not have that in their lives.

Serving others in this way doesn’t have to be a formal group or event. It can just be extending relationship to one person who needs to feel like they are welcome somewhere.

Many treat offering hospitality to others as an “extra” or an optional way to show the love of Jesus to others, but really, ALL Christians living changed lives for Christ are called to offer this kind of love to others. Romans 12:13 (NIV) says it clearly for us:

“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

Biblical hospitality is an act of service, love, and obedience to God.

Hebrews 13:2 (NIV) says:

” Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. “

You never know who God is sending your way. You never know who the Lord is going to send you to love on and offer hope to.

While some are more gifted in this area than others, we can all offer belonging and hope to at least 1 person and allow God to touch them through our service.

RELATED: How to Lead Authentic & Effective Small Groups

What Biblical Hospitality Is Not

In order to embrace hospitality and understand it’s purpose, we have to let go of the expectations placed on us by the world. Biblical hospitality is not about putting on a show or impressing people. It’s also not about showing others how spiritual you are.

Many times when we are given a command in the Bible, our heart’s reaction is to ask, “How much of that do I have to do and still be saved?”

When we start asking the question, “How much do I have to do?” we are in a dangerous place. Showing love to others through hospitality is not about meeting a quota or checking a box. It’s about an attitude of love and service for others and having a heart that puts loving others over our own comfort. It’s about offering the belonging and acceptance we have in Jesus to others.

In the time of Abraham, hospitality was an expectation. A person’s reputation was largely based on their hospitable nature and how well they served strangers. This practice was common (Genesis 18: 2-5) and the homes then were certainly not Pinterest-worthy by our standards.

Does offering your home to a stranger in need sound crazy? To us in our time, it sure does. Our culture has shifted and the news perpetuates such fear that our doors remain closed and our windows dark.

Biblical hospitality is not a call to ignore personal safety or discernment about potentially dangerous situations. It is a call to listen to the Holy Spirit leading us and to walk in obedience when He does.

Biblical hospitality is not about our homes. It’s not about entertaining and getting others to like us. It’s about showing others the love of Jesus and cultivating intimate relationships.

The Lesson of Mary and Martha

Luke 10:38-42 (NIV) shows us the two hearts of Biblical hospitality and teaches us the true purpose of it.

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,  but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Martha opened her home to Jesus, but her heart was distracted and worried about preparing her home instead of focusing on the person in her home. Mary understood that Jesus was the most important thing in that home and that is a beautiful lesson for us.

Of course we should be good stewards of our homes and care for them, but the most important thing in our homes should be Jesus. Honoring Him, serving Him, showing Him to others and loving those He has brought into our lives.

If we will let go of the need for perfection or approval, we can simply be present with the people God has entrusted to us.

Biblical hospitality doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. Shovorne of The Hope Table tells us how to ditch the overwhelm and start opening our hearts and homes to people in this week’s Featured Post!

Struggling To Show Hospitality? 6 Simple Ideas To Get You Started

One of the simplest pleasures of human life is to share it with others. One way to do that is to invite others into our home.

1 Peter 4:9 says

Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God

But with all the best intentions to invite others into our world, into our homes, and to be hospitable, not everyone finds it easy to open the door. If you’re a seasoned pro at hosting then this article probably isn’t for you! This is for the gal that wants to open the door to others, but constantly finds herself making excuses to keep it closed!

>>CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL POST<<