Hospitality:The virtue of Abraham and Lot

HOSPITALITY: THE VIRTUE OF ABRAHAM AND LOT.

‘Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.’ Hebrew13:2 (KJV). 

Sometimes ago, I was in a Bible Study Class. I can’t remember the topic for discussion again but I remember that it had to do with Abraham and Lot. People were making comment about Abraham and Lot in regards to what happened in Genesis 13 where the two parted because of strive between their herdsmen (Genesis13:7-8). People’s comment was that Lot was selfish and greedy. He should have allowed his uncle to choose first as courtesy demands and also due to his covetousness he chose the plain of Jordan because it was good leaving his uncle with Jordan (Genesis13:10). As the discussion was going on, I observed a virtue to learn and emulate from Abraham and Lot. The virtue of hospitality.  

In Genesis Chapter 18, the Bible recorded that Abraham, the father of faith, saw two men (Genesis18:2-3) After receiving the two stranger into his house, he gave them water to wash their feet as it was their custom and a morsel of bread (Genesis18:4-7). Abraham gave shelter and food to total strangers. This is an exemplary of hospitality ever recorded in the Bible. Unknown to Abraham that they were the angels of the Lord. After this show of uncommon hospitality, Abraham was rewarded handsomely. His wife Sarah was blessed with the fruit of the womb, (vs10), Abraham was able to know the secret of the Lord (vs17) and blessed by God (vs18). Abraham was indeed a man of hospitality and he reaped the fruits of it. 

Also, in Genesis Chapter 19, Lot the nephew of Abraham exhibited the same virtue.  According to the chapter above, Lot sat at the gate of Sodom and he saw two angels. He went to meet them. He offered them shelter, food and protection. This is great and wonderful. What then did he gain in return for this good gesture? He and his family were saved from the gruesome destruction of the city of Sodom and Gomorrah. Hospitality pays. 

Hospitality pays a lot as we see in the lives of Abraham and Lot. The teaching of this article is that we should be hospital and friendly to everyone. The Bible says in Hebrew 13:2 (KJV) says ‘Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.’   And also Galatians 6:9 (KJV) says, ‘and let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.’  

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