The Essence of Hospitality
Hospitality was a prominent quality in Pakistan. At every home we were welcomed, “Salaam alekum. Come, come. You must have chai.” Even as we shopped, chai was proffered. Sometimes it was green chai - a sweet, unfermented tea. Most of the time, it was that hot, fragrant, sweet milk tea made with cardamom - almost a meal by itself when made with rich water buffalo milk. The contrast was great - the richness of the chai and the poverty of the people.
In the rocky bareness of the hills, that rising place before the foothills of the Himalayas, lay a small hut blending into the dusty earth around it. The home was almost as bare as the hills - a few low stools and a charpai or string bed against the mud wall. In the heat of the summer, one would seek the coolness in the inner-recesses of the house. But now was spring and the gentle warmth of the sun was welcome.
Inside a toddler crept closer to the fire where the teapot was simmering. His young mother picked him up and placed him outside the door. She next carried the teapot and cups outside, and the two of them walked to a sunny spot in the garden. She sat down with him and poured the tea. Her mother-in-law called her, and she quickly responded, running into the house.
The poor mother was only gone an instant before she returned - but what an instant! There, eyeball to eyeball with the child was a hooded cobra, swaying in the mesmerizing rhythm that freezes a victim before the strike. The frightened woman froze and before she could even take a breath to scream, the child moved.
Lightning fast as only toddlers can be, the boy firmly grasped the deadly serpent behind its hood. Then, as hospitably as he had seen his parents be, he insisted, “Drink chai, drink chai” while he repeatedly dunked the hooded head into the scalding hot cup of chai. And thus, hospitality killed the cobra.
Our language teacher related a shortened version of this story about hospitality. It sounds like folklore, but truth can be stranger than fiction. I like this story because hospitality is important in our Christian lives.
The Greek word for hospitality means “love of strangers”. Hebrews 13:1-2 says:
“Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!”
Hospitality is a virtue that God wants us to have. He commands us to be hospitable; Leviticus 19:33-34 says,
“When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”
We both give and receive hospitality, resulting in many memories. Numerous times we were treated to a large meal cooked on one small burner. Once while traveling we stopped for a dinner at a wide spot beside the road, next to a corn field. The owner of the cornfield came, built a fire, and roasted corn for us. He considered us his guests because we were between his house and field. Another time we visited a family perched on the side of the road near the river. They insisted we spend the night with them. Then when their son drowned, Mark and our son Michael returned for his funeral.
We took in a family of seven fleeing a death threat because their son-in-law discovered his wife was a Christian. We learned that they had become believers listening to the radio program with which we were involved.
We also hid a man under a big box in the back of our vehicle so we could sneak him into our house. Some radicals were looking for him, and he needed to finish some translation work in safety.
We cared for a sick baby for seven months and kept a tribal woman (and her baby) who needed medical care. It was a witness to an entire village. When we tried to return the baby, the woman, and her son, we were refused entrance to the tribal area. So we traveled to the village outside the tribal area. There the owner of the only “hotel” took us to his home and prepared his storage room for us to stay. His hospitality gave our six children and us two women a yard with privacy, rather than a room without a bathroom or a view.
We also cared for three surviving quintuplets whose mother had died. It had lasting effect on their father and the mother’s employer.
I am thrilled that our daughter is also fulfilling this passage in Leviticus. She started ministering to Afghan women and children, meeting their needs and treating them with respect. She is now valued by the husbands of these women and is able to freely speak truth to them.
Yet it is not only the stranger who is to be the recipient of our hospitality but also fellow believers. In 1 Peter 4:9 we are told to “show hospitality to one another without grumbling” Yes, there are times it feels inconvenient to have people visit but we should receive them with love. Not too long ago, a couple wanted to come over after the children had gone to bed. I had mixed emotions because I usually unwind at that time. However, the evening was delightful as we talked and shared our experiences and faith. We were able to encourage each other. Jesus allows us to come to him at any time. Why shouldn’t we allow others to do likewise?
In hospitality, we serve Christ, not just people. We built relationships and trust. We take people into our hearts by loving them with the love of God. And that is the essence of hospitality.
