'Who Cares?'
By J. Grant Swank Jr. (05/11/08)
Children squealed with delight. Senior citizens gingerly stepped over one slippery rock after another. Teens splashed about as if they owned the place. It was a hoot!
Standing under that 600 foot drop of cascading waterfalls was truly a tourist’s highlight. Such a dramatic natural wonder is justly called the “Niagara of the Caribbean”, tucked away in the heart of a northcoast region laden with fern-graced cliff edges and awesome watersprays.
Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay entice with their breathtaking God-painted splendor. So it was that the Dunn’s River Falls captured our praises. (And to think that we were not far from where Columbus first landed more than 500 years ago.)
Jamaicans Herb and Pearl saw to it that our getaway to their lush island was red carpeted from alpha to omega. Thank you, friends of many years!
Apostle Peter urged his companions on The Way to extend this same gift of hospitality: “Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves. . .Use hospitality one to another without grudging as every man has received the gift. . .” (I Peter 4:8-10)
Ah! Christians properly make much of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. But in their listing, they infrequently note the hospitality gift that does not appear in the familiar Romans Letter and I Corinthians passages. Leave it to individualist Peter to come through with a mentioning all of his own.
The gift of hospitality—being a server-giver for Jesus’ sake. Try it. You’ll definitely stand out.
The other evening as I sat in a Lakes Region Bible study, Mike spoke up to say that he had not had supper. He came straight from job to study. “Do you hear my stomach growling?” he joked.
With that, Butch stood up from his chair, proceeding with haste to the kitchen. “What are you doing? We’re in the middle of Exodus!” was an off-handed remark voiced joshingly. After all, the group knew its members.
It was not Butch’s house but he knew his way around. A bowl. A spoon. Three broken eggs. Some salt and pepper. Freshly cut homemade bread for toast with butter and jam. A tall glass of milk. And the ubiquitous microwave for producing warm, fluffy scrambled eggs. There! Julia Child, eat your heart out.
Fortunately for dining, Mike had his Bible opened atop the dining room table. Good planting. In short order, Butch placed before that hungry fellow Mike’s evening meal!
“Let the Spirit lead!” someone exclaimed as the rest of us laughed in agreement.
The gift of hospitality—serving and giving in Jesus’ name. Not that hard to do if your heart is in the right position. And what gratification for it truly is more blessed to give than to receive.
Just three of us stood in that kitchen after others had gone home from the study. Mike spoke up: “I thank God I ever met this loving group. My sister keeps telling me I should move out of state, get a job somewhere else. I keep thinking: I can’t do that. Where would I come upon a believing community that gives and cares like this one?”
“Use hospitality. . .even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (I Peter 4:9-10)
In Jamaica or in Maine, in the office or the home—wherever and with whomever, being gracious and giving is always in fashion with God.
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