Biblical Hospitality Part 5

Planning Ahead So You Can Be Present

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

Biblical hospitality does not require a perfect house, an elaborate menu, or hours spent preparing for guests. It simply requires a willing heart, an open door, and a desire to share the love of Christ.

In this week’s episode of Coffee Chats with Diane Nix, my friend Dianne Dougharty and I continue our summer conversation about biblical hospitality. We have discussed the biblical foundation of hospitality, overcoming anxiety, planning ahead, and keeping things simple. This week, we are talking about how make-ahead meals and a well-stocked freezer can help us welcome others with less stress.

Hospitality Is About People, Not Perfection

Before Diane arrived to record our podcast, I put together a new bookcase because I didn’t want books piled in the corner.

Isn’t that just like us?

We invite people into our homes and suddenly decide we must clean the garage, organize every closet, and finish projects we have ignored for months. In our desire to create the “perfect” environment, we can exhaust ourselves and make our families miserable.

Friend, your guests are not coming to inspect your closets. They are coming to spend time with you.

Planning and keeping a few simple meals available can help us welcome people without unnecessary stress. The goal is not to impress our guests. The goal is to be present with them.

Planning Creates Room for People

A little preparation can make hospitality feel much more manageable.

When you return from grocery shopping, take time to divide larger packages of meat into meal-size portions. Prepare what you can before freezing. Label each package clearly, include the date, and move older items toward the front.

You might also designate one day each month as a meal-preparation day. Even a few hours spent preparing ingredients, assembling casseroles, or cooking ground beef can make a tremendous difference during a busy season.

If you are already cooking a meal for a new mother, a grieving family, or someone recovering from an illness, consider doubling the recipe. Deliver one meal and freeze the other. The next time God brings someone to your table, or your family needs dinner during a hectic week, you will already have something prepared.

Hospitality Begins at Home

Sometimes the most important hospitality happens around our own table.

Preparing meals ahead can help us serve our families without becoming exhausted. It can also become a wonderful opportunity to teach our children and grandchildren about planning, stewardship, and service.

Invite them to help select a meal, prepare the ingredients, and clean the kitchen afterward. We are not merely teaching them how to cook. We are teaching the next generation how to care for people.

Be a Faithful Steward

Planning is also one way we can steward what God has provided.

Before leaving town, freeze fresh fruit that might spoil and use it later in smoothies. Freeze bread before it becomes stale. Divide large casseroles into smaller portions so you can thaw only what you need.

Remember that biblical hospitality does not require expensive ingredients or specialty stores. Shop where your budget allows. Watch for sales, choose simple ingredients, and use what you already have.

Faithful hospitality is not measured by how much money we spend. It is measured by the love with which we serve.

Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing

Biblical hospitality is not about impressing people. It is about making room for them.

It is noticing the lonely woman, welcoming the new family, delivering a meal to someone who is hurting, or gathering friends around your table for an honest conversation. Even the simplest food can become a tangible expression of Christ’s love.

The meal does not need to be complicated.
The house does not need to be perfect.
You need to be present.

Who might God be asking you to welcome, feed, or encourage this week?

Listen to this week’s episode of Coffee Chats with Diane Nix for more encouragement from Diane Doctory and me. Then download our free Biblical Hospitality: Make-Ahead Recipes guide for simple meal ideas and practical freezer tips.

Open your heart. Open your home. Keep the meal simple and let Jesus take care of the rest.