Receiving Guests

When I was growing up in my parents’ home, it was customary for us to welcome guests warmly. Since there were not always enough sleeping places for everyone, my sister and I were given a mattress on the floor, and we gladly slept on this unusual bed, while our guests spent the night in our beds. When there were many guests, some of them lay down on the floor with us, and we, cheerfully talking with them, fell asleep together. I remember how my mother always prepared a big feast and then complained about being tired. And I was always glad for new guests and did not understand how one could get tired of them, because they were all so interesting. But, listening to my parents’ conversations, I understood that guests can be different.

At that time there was no mobile communication, and we did not always know when someone would drop in on us. But my parents were always ready for spontaneous visits and refused hospitality to no one. And when the weekend began, it definitely meant that either someone was coming to visit us, or we were going to visit someone.

In my wife’s home, a tradition of receiving guests had also been introduced, and everything looked different, but this situation was familiar to her.

When creating a family, we discussed the matter of receiving guests and decided to act according to the circumstances and show warmth to everyone. We did not know who and how people would visit us, where we would accommodate them, and what we would do when someone unexpectedly came to see us.

In the Bible we read that hospitality to strangers is good, and we decided that the doors of our home would always be open to guests. We also agreed that we would invite all the members of our congregation to our home in turn, so that we could get to know everyone better at the dinner table. And if someone would invite us to their place, then we would not refuse.

Such visits were short-term, and, as a rule, no one spent the night with us, and we always planned to leave the hospitable home without lingering there until midnight. Such meetings brought us closer to people, and we acquired more and more new friends.

It also happened that someone, passing by, would stop in to greet us or simply to see us, and we had to put off our household chores and devote our time to the guests.

My wife and I decided that in our home our family would testify to everyone about Christ, and we would lead all our conversations to the plan of Salvation. And when we visit other homes, there we would look at the situation—how to conduct the conversation, what to eat and what not to eat—and learn many things through contact with others.

When we got married, my wife moved into the house I was renting on the outskirts of the city, and together we desired to make this dwelling a place of habitation for God and holy angels, about which we prayed, dedicating our home to the service of Heaven.

We decided that in our dwelling our rules would apply, which the guests would have to take into account, and for some things we would close our eyes and grant everyone freedom of choice. For example, we decided that we would not force guests to take off their outdoor shoes, and if they decided to enter the house in them, we would quietly clean everything later, but at the same time we demonstratively put out guest slippers which were impossible to pass without noticing.

We also decided that in our home we would not feed people meat dishes or give them what the Spirit of Prophecy does not recommend to eat and drink. But to show the beauty and benefit of proper nutrition, we had to learn this from professionals.

If unexpected guests suddenly came who were also hungry, then for such a case we always had in reserve jarred preserves and other foodstuffs that could quickly be put on the table without extra expense.

If we knew that someone would stay with us for a long time and in large numbers, then for such a case we had purchased inflatable mattresses and set aside bedding.

It also happened that we sometimes held youth meetings with an overnight stay at our place, and there was much trouble with accommodating all who wished to come. But usually we knew about such events in advance and asked everyone to come with their own sleeping pads and sleeping bags.

You cannot foresee everything, and at the very beginning of our family life we had a lot of awkward situations with receiving guests, but each time the Lord helped us and taught us how to find the right way out.

I noticed that when receiving guests a very great burden fell on my wife’s shoulders, and she wore herself out trying to please everyone. Therefore, I decided to help her with this and to actively involve the guests in the process of setting and serving the table. Just in case, I had disposable tableware prepared, to reduce the burden on my wife, but we did not use it very often, although sometimes these supplies helped us out.

Interesting experiences were brought to us by spontaneous or uninvited guests. It happened that I got acquainted with someone in church and invited them to our home without warning my wife. She always had many questions for me about this and many concerns. But everything was somehow peacefully resolved. Over time, we learned to warn each other about such situations and agreed on what to do if this happened.

Our family councils were held in the usual manner. We tried not to invite anyone during that time, but if someone was already visiting us, then we let them know that we had family time for fellowship, which surprised many, and then we answered numerous questions about how this is and why we do it.

I do not know exactly how, but I know for sure that all our guests somehow strangely guessed that my wife and I love and delight in each other. Although we did not flaunt our close relationship and tried to behave with dignity, not kissing in public, friends always recognized our caring attitude toward each other. And when we began to tell how we love each other, then for some reason everyone believed us and rejoiced for us, although we had no special proof of our love besides ourselves. Well, so what if we smile or joyfully admire each other. Our friends liked to watch us, and we often caught their joyful looks.

And we also noticed that when guests saw mutual love in us and then heard assurances of love addressed to them, then they believed us and gladly accepted everything that we offered them.

Our family councils helped us to determine our approach to hospitality and to introduce various rules and suggestions into this endeavor. We agreed on everything and always discussed our missteps and mistakes.

It also happened that my wife did not want to receive anyone into the house for personal reasons, and then I had to politely refuse everyone and invite no one, and have a proper understanding of this matter. Usually everyone understood everything, and no one was offended by this.

We were interested in gathering in homes to study spiritual truths and reflect on the Eternal. We prayed, sang, and read together, and such meetings filled us with special joy and the understanding that in Jesus we are one family.

When we were ill, which happened very rarely, then all guests were canceled, and we ourselves did not go where we could get infected.

Our doors and hearts were always open to everyone.

1. Please read Heb.13:1–2; Rom.12:9–13; Gen.18:1–8; Matt.25:34–45; Job 31:32; Ps.38:13; 118:19; 1 Pet.2:11–12; 3 John 1:5; 1 Tim.3:2; 5:10; Titus 1:8 in the light of our lesson.

2. What did you understand from this topic?

3. What other verses from the Bible came to your mind?

4. What is hospitality?

5. Why does the Bible advise us to be hospitable?

6. Should we invite absolutely everyone into our home?

7. Did Lot know Whom he invited into his house? Can we experience a similar thing? (Gen.19:1–3).

8. Have you ever felt joy because someone invited you to their home?

9. Should you arrange your home so that guests can be received in it?

10. Does Jesus compare Himself with those who were sojourners?

11. What do you think—if someone receives you as a guest, are you at that moment a representative of Christ?

12. Are there guests who bring curses into your home?

13. How can you develop the gift of hospitality if you do not have it?

14. Should you take into account the opinion and desire of your family when inviting guests?

15. Have you ever invited Jesus as a guest? If so, how did He respond to this?