After 2020, you might feel like hospitality is a lost art.

For much of the world, COVID-19 meant that we weren’t supposed to leave our homes—let alone invite anyone into our homes. Even as the pandemic eases, hospitality can feel uncomfortable and easy to ignore.

You know that hosting people in your home involves a lot of time and effort. Do you have time to cook a meal? You need to clean the house and make sure your children don’t make a mess before guests arrive. Your schedule is already full, and you might lack the energy to even consider adding one more task to this week’s to-do list.

Does God really care about hospitality?

The Bible is full of direction for us as we consider this question. Hospitality is in God’s nature—he delights in showing love to us by freely welcoming us into his eternal family through Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26). If we trust in Jesus, the Bible tells us that our Savior has prepared a place for us in heaven (John 14:3). God even promises to live with us someday (Revelation 21:3).

Until then, God’s Word guides us in becoming more like our heavenly Father by practicing hospitality. As we host others, we can enjoy God’s good gift of fellowship. We also have a practical chance to show his loving and gracious nature to people who might be longing for friendship and community. Ultimately, hospitality blesses both the host and the guests!

Even if you don’t often have time to host others in your home, you can still experience the blessing of hospitality and welcome people into your life by finding new ways to share your time, gifts, and belongings.

Here are four reasons to pursue biblical hospitality by opening your heart and home to friends, family, and strangers.

Hospitality is what God desires.

The kind of fasting I want is this: Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free. Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives.

Isaiah 58:6-7 GNT

Hospitality is an opportunity to show God’s love to your guests by sharing your time, belongings, and home.

Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers.

Romans 12:13 GNT

Hospitality is a chance to use God’s gifts in your life for the good of others.

Open your homes to each other without complaining. Each one, as a good manager of God’s different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from God.

1 Peter 4:9-10 GNT

Hospitality and care for other people will be richly rewarded.

“The righteous will then answer him, ‘When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we ever see you a stranger and welcome you in our homes, or naked and clothe you? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!’”

Matthew 25:37-40 GNT