“Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:13‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Paul lays out 9 ways to show family affection from verses 10 through 13. Today we will wrap up numbers 8 and 9.

Number 8, share with the saints in their needs. If you have the means to help a need in the life of a Christian do it. The early church sold all their worldly possessions to give to the church. So that no one was in need. Today we often hold back stuff because it is ours. We give less than 10% of our money to the church. In this way, we are not helping meet the needs of fellow saints. A family shares their things to help fill needs in each other’s lives.

“This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has this world’s goods and sees his brother in need but closes his eyes to his need — how can God’s love reside in him?”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/1jn.3.16-17.hcsb

“When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭11:9‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/2co.11.9.hcsb

Last, of all, number 9, pursue hospitality. Open your home to the family of God. find ways to have people in your home. It could be for a meal. It could be for an evening game night or a movie marathon. Or a fun backyard fellowship. Or if you have the extra space host a missionary or evangelist for the weekend while they are in. Figure out what works best for you. Your house may not look like the White House or the Holiday Inn but I bet it has more character with no barricades or expensive bills after your stay.

My wife and I went through a College ministry where the leader opened his home up to the college kids. He had a bedroom downstairs for one or two college kids to live with them. Many of the college kids had a key to their home so that any time they wanted to get away and hang out they could. He filled his basement with games. He opened his home to us. He showed hospitality. We love to do the same because of his family example we want to share that example with others. 

“One day Elisha went to Shunem. A prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to eat some food. So whenever he passed by, he stopped there to eat. Then she said to her husband, “I know that the one who often passes by here is a holy man of God, so let’s make a small room upstairs and put a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp there for him. Whenever he comes, he can stay there.””

‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭4:8-10‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/2ki.4.8-10.hcsb

“After this, he left Athens and went to Corinth, where he found a Jewish man named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul came to them, and being of the same occupation, stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭18:1-3‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/act.18.1-3.hcsb