“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.” —1 Peter 4:8-9 NLT

I am not a great housekeeper, and neither is my husband, Ray. When given a choice between cleaning or reading a book, taking a walk, talking to a friend, writing a blog, or cooking a meal … we’ll choose any or all of those activities over cleaning our home. At the same time, we do want a basically clean home, so we occasionally force ourselves to scrub and sweep to maintain some semblance of tidiness.

This less-than-perfect housekeeping, however, has not stopped us from hosting frequent gatherings in our home and welcoming diverse people to stay with us from time to time. We’ve filled our home with displaced people, new teachers with no place to live, workers on temporary assignments, missionaries, and more. Each time we’ve welcomed someone to stay with us, we’ve grown and learned. Despite my innate messiness, I love company!

When we first married, I worried that people would see all the flaws in my housekeeping when they visited. I’d polish and scrub myself into exhaustion before the company arrived. Amazingly, no one commented on the cleanliness of my cupboard doors or the fact that my light switch panels had no smudges on them. In fact, they noticed nothing at all. What mattered most to them was my heart toward them. Did they feel welcomed and wanted in our home? When I was exhausted before they even arrived, it wasn’t all that easy to welcome with warmth!

As Christians, we are told to open our homes to others. Of course, that does not mean we must always invite people in when we’re in our own times of crisis or when the people in question are unsafe. But it does mean we need to let go of standards of cleanliness that prevent us from being a welcoming place. Over the years, I’ve discovered more about what people want when they come to visit.

Warmth. The best hospitality comes with genuine delight in seeing a visitor’s face, wanting them to enter and be loved and cared for. A big smile and an “I’m so glad you’re finally here. You must be so tired after your trip.” Help with their luggage. All say that—far from being an inconvenience—you are wanted, and you bring joy to the home simply by arriving.

Caring. Once settled with a cup of tea or glass of water, a guest feels more loved when the hostess sits and listens to them than if she prepares a gourmet meal that leaves her no time to interact. Listening and learning more about our guests is a gift to them, indeed. We don’t necessarily have to give profound and wise advice. We need to truly see them and value their personal stories.

Comfortable. Entering a home that is so tidy one is afraid to wrinkle or smudge something is actually not fun. Far better to have a little clutter and a bit of scuffing on the floor that shows guests they won’t be in trouble if they mar perfection. I’ve found that people don’t mind dishes on the counter or a messy desktop at all. It’s honesty on display. A lived-in home will always have a bit of clutter. We don’t need to hide it.

Inclusion. Learning to know my guests is always a joy. Are they introverts? Is the best gift for them an encouragement to just sit and read a book after a long journey, not being required to chat with me or be busy? Well then. Let them sit and recoup. Are they in need of company and chatter? Well then. Invite them into the messiness of the kitchen and set them to work chopping vegetables or setting the table. Including a guest in the work of the home is often a great way to turn from formality to family. We’re in it together.

Boundaries. Ray and I have also learned that it’s a comfort for guests to know our needs and expectations. For example, we both value our quiet times in the morning. So, our guests know that they’re welcome to grab coffee or tea, but we’d prefer them not to talk to us if they see us reading our Bibles and praying in the morning. That’s our quiet hour. And, when it’s time for bed, we say goodnight and trot off to the bedroom. Our guests know that 9:30 pm is the latest I can chat and still be coherent the next day. Letting others know our rhythms gives them comfort. They don’t want to bother us. They want to be “good guests.” So, sharing our boundaries with them keeps everyone happy.

Hospitality does not need to be a performance in perfection. Instead, it should be an honest welcome to a fellow traveler on this planet to a place where God is honored and held in high esteem and where His imperfect hosts love on all who enter into their home rhythms for a season. As Peter exhorts in our verse above, let’s show deep love to all who enter our homes and cheerfully share ourselves and our resources with those in need.

Father God, thank You for the gift of a home. That, itself, is a blessing and one that should be shared. Give us selfless hearts when others need to stay with us for a spell. Show us how to love well, serve with kindness, and create safe spaces for those who enter our homes. Help us to guard the quiet spaces we need in order to serve with genuine love. Thank You, Lord, for Your call on us to open our homes to others. Give us wisdom each time we have an opportunity for hospitality and enable us to say yes or no, seeking Your will in every situation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

You are loved,
Sharon

Sweet Selah Ministries 

Vision
To inspire a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth of God’s Word that stillness and knowing
Him matter most—and will be reflected in more effective work and service

Mission
To offer biblical resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)

Donate
If you’ve been blessed, keep the blessing going!
Click over to our Donation page … and thanks.

Share it. Pin it.