The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity

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Purpose: Acceptance & Comfort
THE GIFT OF HOSPITALITY (I Pet. 4:9)
Definition: “The special ability that God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to
provide open house and warm welcome for those in need of food and lodging.” 31
A spiritual gift? Although hospitality is not included in any of Paul’s lists of gifts, the context
in which Peter mentions it seems to indicate that it is a genuine spiritual gift. After Peter speaks of
hospitality in verse 9 of chapter 4, he immediately refers to spiritual gifts in the following two
verses.
Description: Paul wrote, “Share with God’s people who are in need” (Rom. 12:13). The
next statement he says is, “Practice hospitality” (Rom. 12:13). Practicing hospitality is one way of
sharing with God’s people who are in need (specifically of food and lodging).
The Greek word for hospitality used in the Bible comes from two other words meaning
“brotherly love” and “stranger.” Literally, hospitality means “brotherly love toward strangers.”
The writer of Hebrews captured the meaning of the word when he wrote, “Do not forget to
entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it”
(Heb. 13:2)
Although Peter’s injunction to offer hospitality to “one another” refers to fellow believers, it
should not be limited to them. Hospitality is to be practiced toward all people. The word
“stranger” refers to anyone we do not know intimately. He or she might be an unbeliever or a
church visitor, or a member with whom we have had a passing acquaintance for a long time. To
be hospitable means more than just offering superficial friendship; it involves investing our time
and resources to meet another’s needs.
Although everyone is to practice hospitality (Rom. 12:13; Heb. 13:1-2; III Jn. 8) especially
leaders (I Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:8) and widows who were to receive church support (I Tim 5:10),
everyone does not have the gift of hospitality (I Pet. 4:9-11).
“The main part of the word hospitality is hospital. Ancient travelers, whether pilgrims or
businessmen, fared poorly when venturing beyond their own country. Thus, religious
leaders established internations guest houses in the fifth century. These havens were
called ‘hospice’ from hospes, Latin for ‘guests.’ With the coming of the Crusades, the
importance of the hospice increased greatly. Pilgrims, crusaders, and other travelers