If you've been drawn the biblical mandate to practice hospitality (without grumbling, see 1 Peter 4:9) then it's a good idea to set yourself up to be able to welcome a guest without much notice.
Sure, some time to prepare is nice but life just doesn't always happen that way.
Here are some ideas that have helped me.
Hospitality often equals food. Food equals anything from a full meal to a bowl of cereal or a bag of popcorn. Fancy is not a requirement for showing the love of Jesus to someone. An easy meal you can always have on hand that is a general crowd pleaser is spaghetti, green beans, and bread. Just keep a can of sauce, a box of spaghetti, a couple cans of green beans, plus buttered sliced bread. So easy, quick, and it won't cost the host a lot if money is an issue...which don't worry. Money is an issue for most everybody. Bonus: kids love spaghetti....or at least they'll like the bread and butter.
You can enjoy a simple meal with a new friend and everyone can relax, paying attention to what's most important: each other.
Hospitality can also often equal rest. The comfier, the better. Notice I still didn't say fancier. Comfy and clean will meet the need and fill the heart. A couch to sit on for a movie, a table and supportive chairs for conversation, a couch or air mattress for an overnight stay. You don't need a whole, plush perfectly decorated guest room to welcome a guest. Sure that can be really nice, but it doesn't really matter. Bonus: keep a pack'in'play around even if you don't have kids around normally. It will give you the option of welcoming a young family into your home. Even if it's not overnight, having somewhere to let a little one play or rest safely can open the door to a longer stay than it may have been otherwise.
Some extra things to keep around for guests.....
A box of toys for kids: Legos, a doll, a train, bubbles, a coloring book and pencils.....again just in case you don't normally have kids around doesn't mean God doesn't want to use you to love on someone else's kids.
Keep a deck of cards handy. Easy entertainment. Also it can help to have something to do with your hands to keep the conversation going.
Some extra nice things for an overnighter: a fan, a nice pillow and clean sheets, access to snacks and drinks, the wifi password, as much privacy as possible.
If you're nervous about inviting someone over last minute because your house is always a wreck, my best advice is: don't let your house usually be an absolute wreck. I know, I know, sometimes life is crazy and things have to be pushed to the back burner. That's one thing. But if your goal is to be able to invite people in for the sake of loving on them, don't let bad messy habits stand in your way and limit your obedience and joy. Make a plan, be diligent, DECLUTTER, and get your home to a place where it can be tidied up in a quick sprint. Again, I do not mean to imply that anything has to be fancy. Please. Your home does not have to be magazine perfect or in any way expensive to be the perfect place for someone to feel welcomed and cared for. Generally clean and peaceful will do just fine. In the same vein though, people just loved to be invited and could care less what your house looks like. Don't let insecurity rob both you and your potential guest of an evening of authentic conversation and true discipleship.
Given everything I've shared I cannot stress enough that to have the gift of hospitality you must first have a foundation of true, sacrificial love. Love for Jesus and a knowledge of what He has done for you. Also a love for His people, those He brings your way. Loving another person is always sacrificial. You must choose to sacrifice your time, comfort, tidiness of your home, possibly your entire couch (ha!) for the privilege of pouring into someone, being part of their life, and possibly sharing salvation with them. If you don't have love for the people who walk through your door or at least the desire to truly love them like Christ does you will simply be entertaining them and filling your own sense of self righteousness. You will also be given to grumbling when it comes to having people in your space.
I hope these ideas have given you something new to try when people come over. I hope this post has inspired you to open your heart and doors to people who need someone to really care. Hospitality brings us so much joy and satisfaction along with the work that goes into it. It's a joy to try and love people of all kinds like Jesus has loved on us: openly, generously, authentically, happily.
Here are some passages on hospitality for some more ideas and inspiration....
Titus 1:8
1 Peter 4:8-9
Acts 16:33-34
Luke 14:12-14
Matthew 25:42-46
Romans 12:13-20
Sure, some time to prepare is nice but life just doesn't always happen that way.
Here are some ideas that have helped me.
Hospitality often equals food. Food equals anything from a full meal to a bowl of cereal or a bag of popcorn. Fancy is not a requirement for showing the love of Jesus to someone. An easy meal you can always have on hand that is a general crowd pleaser is spaghetti, green beans, and bread. Just keep a can of sauce, a box of spaghetti, a couple cans of green beans, plus buttered sliced bread. So easy, quick, and it won't cost the host a lot if money is an issue...which don't worry. Money is an issue for most everybody. Bonus: kids love spaghetti....or at least they'll like the bread and butter.
You can enjoy a simple meal with a new friend and everyone can relax, paying attention to what's most important: each other.
Hospitality can also often equal rest. The comfier, the better. Notice I still didn't say fancier. Comfy and clean will meet the need and fill the heart. A couch to sit on for a movie, a table and supportive chairs for conversation, a couch or air mattress for an overnight stay. You don't need a whole, plush perfectly decorated guest room to welcome a guest. Sure that can be really nice, but it doesn't really matter. Bonus: keep a pack'in'play around even if you don't have kids around normally. It will give you the option of welcoming a young family into your home. Even if it's not overnight, having somewhere to let a little one play or rest safely can open the door to a longer stay than it may have been otherwise.
Some extra things to keep around for guests.....
A box of toys for kids: Legos, a doll, a train, bubbles, a coloring book and pencils.....again just in case you don't normally have kids around doesn't mean God doesn't want to use you to love on someone else's kids.
Keep a deck of cards handy. Easy entertainment. Also it can help to have something to do with your hands to keep the conversation going.
Some extra nice things for an overnighter: a fan, a nice pillow and clean sheets, access to snacks and drinks, the wifi password, as much privacy as possible.
If you're nervous about inviting someone over last minute because your house is always a wreck, my best advice is: don't let your house usually be an absolute wreck. I know, I know, sometimes life is crazy and things have to be pushed to the back burner. That's one thing. But if your goal is to be able to invite people in for the sake of loving on them, don't let bad messy habits stand in your way and limit your obedience and joy. Make a plan, be diligent, DECLUTTER, and get your home to a place where it can be tidied up in a quick sprint. Again, I do not mean to imply that anything has to be fancy. Please. Your home does not have to be magazine perfect or in any way expensive to be the perfect place for someone to feel welcomed and cared for. Generally clean and peaceful will do just fine. In the same vein though, people just loved to be invited and could care less what your house looks like. Don't let insecurity rob both you and your potential guest of an evening of authentic conversation and true discipleship.
Given everything I've shared I cannot stress enough that to have the gift of hospitality you must first have a foundation of true, sacrificial love. Love for Jesus and a knowledge of what He has done for you. Also a love for His people, those He brings your way. Loving another person is always sacrificial. You must choose to sacrifice your time, comfort, tidiness of your home, possibly your entire couch (ha!) for the privilege of pouring into someone, being part of their life, and possibly sharing salvation with them. If you don't have love for the people who walk through your door or at least the desire to truly love them like Christ does you will simply be entertaining them and filling your own sense of self righteousness. You will also be given to grumbling when it comes to having people in your space.
I hope these ideas have given you something new to try when people come over. I hope this post has inspired you to open your heart and doors to people who need someone to really care. Hospitality brings us so much joy and satisfaction along with the work that goes into it. It's a joy to try and love people of all kinds like Jesus has loved on us: openly, generously, authentically, happily.
Here are some passages on hospitality for some more ideas and inspiration....
Titus 1:8
1 Peter 4:8-9
Acts 16:33-34
Luke 14:12-14
Matthew 25:42-46
Romans 12:13-20
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