When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Romans 12:13
If someone mentions hospitality, you’re more likely to think hotels, restaurants or dinner parties than you are lentil soup.
After a recent move, Mara knew her house was a mess! Three weeks later, there were still unpacked boxes and plenty of cleaning to be done. The unexpected costs of the move also meant Mara’s family of six was eating simply that month. They’d had lentil soup all week. All this gave Mara pause when she considered inviting the neighbors to dinner. She knew they had even less than she did, but it was still a bit embarrassing having people over when her house was so disorganized.
Then, she remembered something her mother had told her: Your neighbor wants to belong far more than they want to be impressed. That night, with ten people around the table, her family got to know the neighbors and ended up spending the evening laughing and sharing stories. With pretension and performance nowhere in sight, the families formed a special bond.
The soup had been nourishing to their bodies, but it had also created an opportunity for them to nurture their souls as the family expressed care for their neighbors. God knows how life-giving and good hospitality is for us! That’s why the Bible says, “When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality” (Romans 12:12).
God’s ways often require our sacrifice or putting aside our egos. But all of God’s instructions are also for our own good and that of others! They lead us to lives of joy and peace, rich in human connection.
Who is in need around you, and how can you help? Be super practical! It doesn’t need to be fancy or beyond your means to be meaningful.
