Hospitality
341
up within themselves, who are unwilling to drawn upon to entertain
visitors, lose many blessings
Angels are waiting to see if we embrace opportunities within our
reach of doing good—waiting to see if we will bless others, that they in
their turn may bless us. The Lord Himself has made us to differ—some
poor, some rich, some afflicted—that all may have an opportunity to
develop character. The poor are purposely permitted to be thus of God,
that we may be tested and proved and develop what is in our hearts
When the spirit of hospitality dies, the heart becomes palsied with
selfishness
To Whom Should Hospitality Be Extended?—Our social enter-
tainments should not be governed by the dictates of worldly custom,
but by the Spirit of Christ and the teaching of His word. The Israelites,
in all their festivities, included the poor, the stranger, and the Levite,
[448]
who was both the assistant of the priest in the sanctuary and a religious
teacher and missionary. These were regarded as the guests of the peo-
ple, to share their hospitality on all occasions of social and religious
rejoicing, and to be tenderly cared for in sickness or in need. It is such
as these whom we should make welcome to our homes. How much
such a welcome might do to cheer and encourage the missionary nurse
or the teacher, the care-burdened, hard-working mother, or the feeble
and aged, so often without a home and struggling with poverty and
many discouragements.
“When thou makest a dinner or a supper,” Christ says, “call not thy
friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours;
lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But
when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the
blind: and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for
thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.”
These are guests whom it will lay on you no great burden to
receive. You will not need to provide for them elaborate or expensive
entertainment. You will need to make no effort at display. The warmth
of a genial welcome, a place at your fireside, a seat at your home table,
the privilege of sharing the blessing of the hour of prayer, would to
many of these be like a glimpse of heaven.
4
Ibid., 6:344
.
5
Ibid., 2:28
.
6
Manuscript 41, 1903
.