Text: Acts 28:1-10, 1 Kings 17:8-24, Psalm 128:1-2
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
– Acts 20:35b
Random drop-ins scare the pants off of some people. There’s nothing like the 2 p.m. knock at the door when you’re still in your pajamas, children running amuck through the house and you’ve yet to put on a bra for the day. What to do? Throw on a sweatshirt despite the fact that it’s 85 degrees outside? Maybe peek out from the upstairs window to see who’s there? Perhaps it’s a friend or a neighbor. Do you welcome them in? Brew a pot of coffee? Brush the shoes and socks off the couch and settle in for a visit? Or do you pretend you aren’t home, even though the sounds from inside say otherwise?
Remember Publius from Acts 28 last week? He is the chief of Malta who invited Paul and the prisoners to his home for 3 days when they were shipwrecked. I always wonder what those 3 days must have looked like, hosting a complete stranger under such odd and abrupt circumstances. At some point during that time, while Paul is walking gardens or lounging at the table after dinner with his new friend, it is mentioned that Publius’s father is very ill. So Paul, being Paul, goes to visit his father and pray for him.
Publius’s father is immediately healed.
Healings are a pretty big deal, so once again Paul and the group become the talk of the town. Word gets out and before Paul’s 3 days on the island are up, all of the sick people of Malta come to receive prayer and are healed.
Did you get that? The whole island is healed because of the welcome extended to strangers. The island is transformed by radical hospitality.
Or what about the widow in Zarephath from 1 Kings 17? She gives Elijah, a complete stranger, food and drink despite the fact that she only has enough for herself and her son. Her tiny bit of flour and oil multiplies enough to feed the three of them for many days. She is a mom whose son falls ill, and because she had offered such unusual kindness, Elijah petitions the Lord for healing.
This woman opened her door to an unexpected guest and received blessing herself because of her willingness to live generously. Her kindness yielded healing for her household.
It is the economy of our Father that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). We receive blessing in the welcome.
Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.
– Psalm 128:1-2
When we extend ourselves in kindness for others, I wonder how often we are the ones who receive the greater blessing? Perhaps our heart of welcome even opens the door for us to receive healing!
Kinda makes you want to open the door more often, doesn’t it?
Logan Wolfram is the Executive Director of Allume who most loves to write, connect, and encourage women. Daughter of a most extravagant and hospitable King, wife to Jeremy, and mother to 2 wild and inquisitive little boys, her days are filled with a combination of routine and plenty of the unexpected.
These studies have challenged me to open my home more. In UK culture your house should be tidy and perfect before people come round-and mine NEVER will be. I think it takes a lot of courage to fly in the face of that and I’m asking God for it!!
Love this. As I was reading the Bible passages, especially the passage about the widow in Kings, I was struck by how much faith is a process of appearing to be falling, only to be caught by our Father before the painful impact. The widow must have felt that sense of loss and hopelessness as she was waiting for death, before her obedience by faith caused her to be caught in God’s loving hands before she hit the bottom. She must have felt similar hopelessness at her son’s illness, only to be caught once again in God’s love by his healing. We must never let our fear of falling or failing outweigh our hope in God’s grace and deliverance. Thank you SRT
P.s. still learning to be okay with the 2pm “interruptions” and embrace them instead.
growing up my parents often welcomed many people over for meals, including visitors at church. we also usually have extra people at family holiday gatherings. ..Chinese PhD students or other folks we’ve crossed paths with during the year. I love their example of hospitality and love to all sorts of people. indeed it is more blessed to give than receive and there’s blessing in the welcome!
Wow, Lauren!! That is huge, and also amazing! God bless you on this new journey.
God has really used this bible study to open up my heart and mind to His plan for my life– both in the small day-to-day acts of hospitality and love and in the large life-changing ones. Today my husband called and asked if we could take in a 15 year old boy that has no family and is about to be put into the system. We are both so young and don’t even have children of our own yet. This isn’t how I had always envisioned my life. But thanks to this series, I am working to expect the unexpected and love boldly and let God figure out the rest. I think we’ll take the leap! Thank you!
I really love this study, but I feel this post left something out. It paints a very flowery, beautiful picture that very often does happen, but I think one has to be prepared for the fact that the hospitality you offer may not be returned with love and appreciation. It doesn’t mean we stop welcoming & opening our homes. It does mean we remember to do out of our love for the Lord, not for what we may receive or hope to receive in return.