The excitement that bubbled in my heart when I realized what it meant to be ready and willing is beyond words. How many times do you get unexpected guests or people who come to your house or wherever you are and the first thing you sometimes feel is annoyance or think: “why didn’t they call ahead of time and make an appointment?” OR you wish you could disappear, if they’ve already seen that you are there, and they will go away. OR worse, you simply don’t answer the door to let them in if they can’t tell whether you are home or not? For a few people, gladness fills their heart and they welcome the unexpected guests. But for some, it’s an inconvenience that if it can be avoided should be at all costs. Imagine how the guests feel if they can tell that you really don't want them there? Sometimes we don’t hide our annoyance well and it affects how we “serve” them. If at all.
What if instead we all had an attitude of hospitality that was completely selfless? If we were always ready and willing to receive unexpected guests and truly be a blessing to them? We have a great example in the Bible that made this clear as daylight to me this morning. In Genesis 18:1-8, Abraham was just sitting at his tent door (where he could be seen) and he saw three men and ran to meet them. "So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground," (verse 2) He asked them to stay and Abraham immediately asked his wife, Sarah, to help serve them. "So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.” (verse 6) (I don't believe that Sarah whined about this request.) Abraham got the butter, milk and calf ready as well and served these three men who ate what was offered to them. I’m sure they were thankful and felt blessed/honored by this kindness. In response to Abraham’s kindness, hospitality, readiness and willingness to serve and entertain his unexpected guests, blessings were poured over his family. In Genesis 18:9-15, the men prophesied over Sarah that she would have a son. (A specific blessing… that they were longing for.) "Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?”So he said, “Here, in the tent.” And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.” (verse 9-10)
Imagine Abraham had ignored these men, looked the other way and shut his tent door as if he wasn’t home. The blessings he would have missed because he didn’t want to be inconvenienced or felt annoyed that they hadn’t “called ahead” to let him know they were coming. Instead, he ran to them and asked them to stay. How many people do we run towards and ask them to stay so that we can serve them? Abraham didn’t serve because he wanted to get something from these men. He was simply ready and willing to serve and give without expecting anything in return. It was just what he did. But he understood the blessing of serving.
As you and I reflect on our lives… will we be ready and willing to be selfless from now on? Will we be free to be loving, kind, and hospitable even to strangers? Abraham didn’t know these three men, yet he hastened to serve them with joy and love—and in turn entertained angels who blessed his household. Remember to be open with your heart and home to be a blessing even to those family and friends that you sometimes wish would never come to your house. LOL… After all, charity begins at home. So, even if you never get anything “tangible” in return for your kindness, do it because you are loved beyond measure by the One who created you for such a time as this :).
