Practicing Hospitality Without Perfection: Simple Ways to Open Your Home

Today, I want to talk about a topic I still sometimes struggle with: practicing hospitality without striving for perfection.

Practicing hospitality is something that should be a regular occurrence for us, but sadly, Christians are so busy with their own lives that at times we are too burnt out to open our homes and welcome others. I am guilty of this as well! However, hospitality is essential if we want to see the gospel go out. Opening our homes strengthens the fellowship of believers, encourages others in Christ, and sets an example for unbelievers so they can see Christ exemplified in us.

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Hospitality is something we need to make room for, and it shouldn’t always be something that is planned out. There is a time for that, yes (Bible study, seasonal gatherings, church events, etc.), but sometimes true, christian hospitality shows up in the unexpected and inconvenient moments.

Practicing Hospitality: Don’t Obsess Over Perfection

I will never forget when a dear friend of my mine stopped by my house unexpectedly. She was going through a difficult time and needed a friend to lean on. I remember thinking how messy my home was and feeling embarrassed about the toys scattered every where and the cat hair piled up in the corners of my living room.

However, that sweet friend took a look around and noted how encouraging it was to see my home looking “normal” haha I had unintentionally set an unrealistic expectation that my home looked perfect all of the time, and seeing that that wasn’t true, it made her feel better about her own home not looking perfectly clean 24/7.

Now, don’t get me wrong – there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to have clean, tidy home for your guests. But don’t get so caught up in obsessing over perfection that you miss gospel opportunities to show God’s love through opening your home and practicing hospitality.

It’s important to ask why. Why are you opening your home? To impress people? To be told how well of a host you are? No. Our reason should always be to glorify God in all things, especially in the practice of hospitality towards God’s people.

• How can this act of hospitality glorify Christ?
• How can our conversation be a source of encouragement?
• How can this evening draw us closer to God?

Practicing Hospitality: It Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive

I know groceries (and the cost of living in general) are so expensive right now, but inviting others to your home doesn’t mean you have to break the bank entertaining and feeding your guests. You can share Christ’s love just as meaningfully over a cup of coffee as you can at a Sunday feast. Generosity is shown through open hearts and open homes, not with spending lavish amounts.

Here are some simple ways that we can practice hospitality:

• Have someone over for a meal
• Invite someone over to bake with you
• Have someone over for coffee or dessert only
• Invite someone over and order pizza!
• Have a board game night with popcorn
• Host a potluck and ask everyone to bring something to share
• Invite friends for a bonfire and s’mores
• Start a book club with other moms
• Organize a play date and make a fruit and veggie plate
• Invite friends to go sledding and have them over for cocoa
• Put together a charcuterie board or a simple salad
• Grill out

Practicing Hospitality: Take the Pressure Off

I know hosting can sometimes feel intimidating, especially if you are inviting someone over for the first time. Believe me, I have been practicing hospitality for a few years now and I can still feel a little overwhelmed opening up my home to new people, especially people who’s souls we care deeply about. Here are a few tips to help take the pressure off:

1. Cook meals that you are very comfortable with. Practice them over and over again. Don’t try new recipes out on your houseguests (unless you’re very comfortable with them, of course).
2. Invest in items like crockpots and Instant Pots and learn recipes that suit those appliances. There’s nothing more stressful than finishing up a meal while your guests are watching you and waiting. Chicken is an easy crockpot meal that is generally a crowd pleaser!
3. Get as much done the day before as possible. If you’re serving soup and bread, bake the bread the day before. Make the soup even! Meals with sauces like spaghetti can be made the day prior. Prep ahead so that you aren’t stressed the day of.
4. Clean your house earlier in the week (if possible). When you have to cook and clean as well as prepare food, you might be exhausted by the time your guests arrive.
5. Last but CERTAINLY not least—pray. Prayer should be the most important part of our hospitality. Ask God to help you with your motives. Ask Him to help you focus on the why. Ask Him for grace and help as you prepare. Don’t underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit!

Making Your Guest Feel Special

Think about the times you were invited over to someone else’s home. What about that memory made you feel special? What made you feel uncomfortable? Try to include some comforts for your guests, and avoid anything that may act as a barrier to show the love of Christ.

Tips and Tricks:

• Have a place where you can easily throw extra toys/clutter. For example, my ottoman has storage for toys.
• Don’t have time to bake or cook? Thrift for serving dishes and platters/cake stands to serve store-bought items
• Think about where guests will sit for conversation. Will it be comfortable? Is there enough seating? Do we need extra tables and chairs?
• Goes without saying—but make sure the dining room and bathroom are clean
• Consider allergies. As someone who is intolerant of gluten, there’s nothing worse than going somewhere and feeling like I can’t eat anything on the menu. It’s not only embarrassing, but I also feel left out as everyone eats around me.
• Have some icebreakers ready. What do you plan on talking about? How do you plan on getting to know them better?
• Have kid-friendly food and toys for families with younger children. When I’m invited over and the host pulls out a bin of old toys they saved from their kids or grandkids, I feel so thankful that they would take the time to think about my boys.

Scripture References

Scripture makes it clear that we should be practicing Biblical hospitality to the body of Christ for the glory of God. Below are just a few verses, but a quick Google search will give you many more examples in the books of John, Ephesians, Timothy etc. Perhaps the best example was set for us by Jesus, who frequently shared meals with peoples of all lifestyles and circumstances (Matthew 9:10). He was truly the ultimate missionary; the bread of life welcoming foreigners to His table with heaven on His mind.

Hebrews 13:2
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

1 Peter 4:9
“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”

Romans 12:13
“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

Well friends, I hope this post not only encouraged you to begin practicing hospitality, but also to take some of the pressure off of hosting the perfect event. May we never forget the goal of hospitality is to glorify God and see the gospel go out!

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