I Peter 4:8-9 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.  Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

The Apostle Peter, who served as an Elder in the 1^st century church, commanded Christians to be hospitable.  Peter suggests that this is how we show love to one another and serve one another.

Showing hospitality is an expectation of Biblical leaders.  The Apostle Paul, writing by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, lists it as one of the qualifications of holding the office of an Elder (I Tim 3:2, Titus 1:8).  Preacher Glen Colley likes to point out the qualifications of Elders are the same characteristics, save for the husband of one wife, to which all Christians should aspire.  So, we should all be hospitable.

I like the definition of hospitality as being the practice of opening your life to other people.  It is the idea of inviting people to share in things you are already doing.  It is not entertaining but sharing your life with others. Even socially distanced, if necessary. True hospitality wages war against the perfectly curated life and allows people to experience your actual life.  Your actual life is much more interesting than your perfectly curated life anyway.

The Apostle Paul also commands us to give preference to one another in Romans 12:10, ‘be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.’ And Paul wrote to put others first in Philippians 2:3-4, ‘do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.’

There is no better way to think of others, give preference to others than to invite them into your life to share in things that you are already doing.  Love one another and show hospitality.