Hospitality...How It Should Be

My cultural/ethnic background is Armenian. One of the things that Armenians are known for is their hospitality. In my culture, guests are treated like VIP’s. We do everything we can to make our guests feel as comfortable as ever and encourage them to feel like they are in their own home. It is also our custom to give presents to our guests. For example, when one of our guests is a child or a newlywed, we always give them presents when they leave. In addition, if it was/will be our guest’s birthday in the near past/future, they will also receive a present from the hosts. Another custom is we do not go to somebody’s house empty handed (unless we are close friends and we see each other very often). Even when I have a sleepover at my Armenian friend’s house, they give me something nice when I leave. There is one rule that shall never be broken in my culture; You Do Not Let Your Guest Leave Your House Hungry. Armenian culture is very much about being generous and hospitable. We share whatever we have and we help however we can.

Having this cultural background, makes it easier for me to understand what the Bible says about sharing what you have with your fellow Christians and helping people with whatever you can. I personally pray that God will help me see the needs of others. I hope to be a person that offers help before anybody asks for it. When someone asks my help, and I am not equipped to help, I do my very best to find a person who can help. I don’t just hear them out, smile and say “well, good luck with that” (that actually did happen to me recently!). If somebody doesn't have enough money for food, and you do, well don’t just pray for them, invite them over for a dinner and when they leave, give them some money! If someone in your Christian family is walking around stressed out because they don’t have a place to stay, and you do have a house, well then offer them a room (or just the couch!) and help them find a room! I've read somewhere in the New Testament, that there was a church where Christians sold all of their belongings to provide for each other, and no one was in need. I am not telling you to go and sell your stuff; I’m just saying use your “stuff” to help others as much as you can. God gave you a house, a car and food for a reason, and You are not the Only reason. Share, give, help! We pray that God would bless us big, abundantly, beyond our imagination. Well, shouldn't this prayer give us an indication of how we should bless others? We as Christian do want to be more like Jesus and have His characteristics, right? Well, if you ask Jesus to bless you abundantly, and you want to grow more into the likeness of Jesus, shouldn't you also try to bless others abundantly? God uses people to bless people, and I want to be the kind of person who is fully available to bless people big time! I believe the more I am willing to help and bless people, the more resources God will give me to bless others.

I have the feeling that, usually, people are willing to help, whenever it suits them. One will help, as long as it won’t cost them money, sleep or anything else “important”. If I’m going to be a person who helps others whenever it suits me, then what makes me different from others? I think that one of the things that should make me, a Christian, different from others, is how much I am willing to serve others. If someone needs help, whether we are friends or not, I want to be the person who goes the extra mile and shows love to the person in distress and brings some peace into the situation. I hope this encourages you to think more about your serving heart.