Counsels on Relationships

Counsel #25 — Hospitable

Picture: Counsel #25 — Hospitable CR 230.1

What if an old friend knocked on your door right now, tired, discouraged, and unsure of where to turn? Would they find warmth, a welcoming presence, and peace inside your home? Or would you reject them at the door due to “not being ready” for guests? CR 230.2

Biblical hospitality isn’t about having the most perfect or largest house. It’s about having a willing spirit. In the Gospels, Jesus didn’t wait for ideal conditions. He welcomed the crowds, touched the outcasts, paused for the lonely, and broke bread with the brokenhearted. His table was always prepared, His door always open. Our hospitality as Christians should model this posture wherever possible. To be intentional, a family could invite someone over after church for lunch and warm conversation, or they could even open their home for prayer or Bible study. If a friend has nowhere to stay due to marriage issues, offering your guest room would be ideal. When your children see these intentional hospitable acts, they will learn that home isn’t just for comfort, but for connection too!^[242] CR 230.3

“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:13 NIV CR 230.4

“When the spirit of hospitality dies, the heart becomes palsied with selfishness.” Ellen White in My Life Today , p. 194 CR 230.5

Reflect: Is your home a sanctuary for others, or just a space you allow your family to enter? CR 230.6