Hospitable Without Complaint

“Be hospitable to one another without complaint” (1 Peter 4:9).

This simple instruction raises the question: Why would extending hospitality involve the danger of “complaining” or “grumbling”?

Because hospitality can be messy. Carpets or couches may get stained. Furniture or walls may get dinged. Dishes or knick-knacks may get broken. When you open your home to others, there’s probably going to be something to clean up afterward.

Because hospitality comes at a cost. It costs money — for food, or (in the case of overnight guests) for laundry, or even for the stained, dinged, or broken things mentioned above. It costs the time and effort of preparing to have folks in our home. It may require changing plans and rearranging schedules.

Because hospitality can be awkward. Hospitality isn’t just about having someone into your home or sharing a meal. It’s about communicating, building relationships. That can be uncomfortable. Maybe you’re not especially outgoing, or you don’t think you’re very good at conversation. Maybe you’re fearful of being judged by others. And after all, some folks are a little odd — or at least they may seem that way to us. It all adds up to the possibility of being a little uneasy for a while.

Because hospitality can be risky. There’s a degree of risk involved in the things above, yes. But there’s more. Someone may take unfair advantage of your hospitality. They may be ungrateful. They may criticize you. They may not extend hospitality to you.

Most of us probably would acknowledge, to our shame, that we have complained about at least some of these things from time to time. And the prospect of them may make us less hospitable than we should be. But when we neglect hospitality, we miss out on blessings that will enrich our lives and deepen our relationships. We deprive the church of needed strength. (In my experience, a church full of hospitable saints is more resistant to disputes and division, more resilient in the face of troubles, more nurturing and encouraging toward its members, and more inviting to non-Christians who may be seeking the truth.) And, as our text reminds us, we neglect something that God expects of us as His people.

Who can you invite to spend a little time sharing your home, your time, your blessings, your life?

View Full Content Source:
https://www.plantcitychurchofchrist.org/articles/2026/01/25/hospitable-without-complaint