Be hospitable to one another without grumbling

As a Christian, God has called me to be hospitable to many people.  These people include my loved ones, fellow believers, my neighbors, strangers, and even enemies.  Here in Pittsburgh, the family-mecca of the world, it is very culturally accepted to have loved ones into our homes.  We excel at loving our family.  But what about all those other people?  Have we obeyed God's command to love those who are seemingly unlovable?  Here is one of my FAVORITE Bible passages:  

Matthew 25:34-40 

34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Here, Jesus the King is calling his elect through his Father's authority to the inheritance they always had since the beginning of creation.  When His elect people practiced hospitality to the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, or the imprisoned, first and foremost they were loving God.  Many of us would have asked the same question: When did I do these things?  However, would God answer us the same way he answered his elect people or would the following passage by a more apt description of yourself?

 
Matthew 25: 41-46

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

First of all, if you haven't put your faith in Christ, you have no hope of being like one of God's elect regardless of how many good acts you do in your life.  If you have no faith, you are not God's servant but are serving another idol.  

We are saved by faith alone in Christ alone, but our faith is never alone.  If you are truly one of God's elect people, you will see fruit in your lives.  You will serve the weak and the fainthearted, you will love your enemy even when they hate you and seek to kill you, but not because this will get you any closer to heaven.  These righteous acts that God alone produces in us and through us are performed because God loved us first, died for us, and gave us the Holy Spirit so that we may be His servant rather than a slave to sin and Satan.  

But, as sure as you may feel of your salvation, are you practicing hospitality?  I mean real hospitality?  Many times, practicing hospitality to our loved ones is easy work if not fun work (sometimes it's not of course).  But how are we doing with loving one another (and without grumbling 1 Peter 4:9)?  

What does it look like for you to practice hospitality to others?  Do you have people into your home that will never be able to return the favor?  Do you invite visitors to the church over after service for Sunday dinner?  Do you volunteer at nursing homes?  Do you let your elderly mother live with you when she has run out of retirement income? Do you support missionaries?  
As a wife and mother, I feel especially called to this ministry.  I'm always at home, so I have the opportunity to make my home a sanctuary for those who are weary and run down.  I also have the duty to take care of my son so that my husband can practice hospitality too.  Are you especially called to this ministry?  However, don't let the circumstances in your life be an excuse to not serve others.  All of His children are called to this ministry in one way or another.  

Please don't misunderstand, this post is certainly not intended to say that I do all these things.  I am a sinner and fail daily at showing hospitality.  1 John 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God ; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  But now, looking at your own life, how can you improve your walk with God by honoring his words and showing hospitality? 

Hebrews 13:2 

  Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.