The Other Side of Hospitality
Scripture Reading — Genesis 18:1-8
“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ . . . Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you.”
We were heading south from Bacolod City in the Philippines, convoying with other vehicles for a church retreat. As we entered Valladolid, I found that our car’s brakes weren’t working. So we hobbled into a service station near the center of town. “Sure, we can fix it,” they said. “Don’t worry.” But I did worry. I didn’t know if I could trust them to do the job well, and I wondered if they might take advantage and overcharge us.
After a long wait, the work was done. “How much?” I asked. “Oh, you don’t need to pay!” they said. But after some negotiation they let me pay some of the cost. Then we were on our way, and we didn’t have brake trouble again. With traditional Filipino hospitality, the service station was very generous to me as a foreigner. I still feel ashamed for my lack of trust.
As we cross borders and barriers to share the good news of Jesus, we will often be guests—in homes, neighborhoods, and countries other than our own. And being good guests, by honoring and trusting our hosts, will help to build strong bridges for friendship and sharing the gospel.
If you travel to a different land, where perhaps the people have a different culture and religion, consider arranging a homestay with local people. Get to know your hosts, be a good guest, and watch barriers come down.
Lord, help us to be good guests, and give us wisdom as we seek to love and trust others, in your name. Amen.
About the author — Stan Kruis
Stan Kruis graduated from Calvin Theological Seminary in 1984 and began serving as a missionary in the Philippines, where he met his future wife, Bessie. Together they served in church planting and leadership training in the Philippines. After completing a Ph.D. in intercultural studies at Fuller Theological Seminary, Stan returned with Bessie to the Philippines in 2014, where he taught missions at the Asian Theological Seminary in Manila. Now retired, they live in Michigan. Stan and Bessie have two married children and one grandchild.
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