I've been a pastor's wife for 20 years. I have a steady stream of people in my home. At this writing I have 2 friends from England staying with me. I love feeding people and have at least 20 different people in my home each week. People constantly "drop by" and visit....unexpected. I have no problems with this (except that I adore my private time). Now, having said that....I can not remember the last time I was invited into a home. I've noticed that people keep their homes a wreck and are ashamed for people to come in. I am certain that hospitality is not dictated by the size or type of home because I have lived in broken down single wide trailers and itty bitty homes for the first 15 years of my marriage. I think it is directly related to the cleanliness of the home.
Here are my reason for keeping a clean house.
(Clean need not be spotless...but clean enough that you are not ashamed of your house.)
Eph 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
1. God commands us to be hospitable.
Ro 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Tit 1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
1Pe 4:9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
2. Messy houses make a woman feel stressed.
Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
3. Messy houses causes sicknesses. (Mold, mildew, roaches, dust mites)
4. It is good stewardship of what God has given you.
1Pe 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
6. It shows appreciation.
1Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
7. Cleanliness creates a more loving atmosphere.
Lu 11:24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
8. Makes keeping up with things easier.
Le 10:10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;
9. Makes your life more organized.
1Co 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
10. God commands a woman to keep the house.
Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
11. It is a good testimony.
1Ti 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
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UGH! I just typed out a long comment and then had a power surge & lost it!
I think this is a much-needed post! People truly are lacking in hospitality any more. My husband frequently comments that of the dozens of families we have hosted, only two have reciprocated by having us in their homes. This includes church families, neighbors, and people he works with... in 3 years!
I believe my mom was very hospitable, although she wasn't that great of a housekeeper. We always had all the neighbor kids in and out of our house all the time as far back as I can remember. We also hosted a lot of family and church family get-togethers. That really helped to instill the skill of hospitality and enjoyment of being a hostess in my life.
When I first got married, I was a terrible housekeeper (cleaned the whole house top-to-bottom one day a week and then spent six days messing it up!). Over the years an orderly routine has evolved (necessary for anyone with several small children!), and our house is always 15 minutes from company-ready. I recommend www.flylady.net or the book "Sink Reflections" for anyone needing help with this.
We have been so blessed from hosting missionaries and many other families over the years. A great peace comes not only from having a clean home, but being of service to others.
Just Wednesday I was very sick with a cold and didn't even feel like getting dressed for church. However, while I was there, my pastor's wife shared a need that someone had; and God gave me the strength to go grocery shopping and stay up till 1 a.m. preparing meals for a family whose dad was having his leg amputated Thursday morning. I've felt better ever since (in spite of only 5 hours of sleep), and we were truly able to be a blessing by taking food to and being at the hospital with those folks early the next day. It also blessed my husband to be able to show up at the hospital early that morning with good food, drinks, and comfort to offer that family when it felt like we had so little else to offer.
There is such an absence of true "home ec" type education any more. All girls need to have homemaking skills when they get married, but sadly ~ most of them don't!
Sorry ~ you probably figured it out, but when I signed in with my Google ID, it only shows my website and not my name.
It's Kristin McPherson!
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