A GOD-LIVED LIFE: Ask Questions

 INTRODUCTORY NOTE

          We are in the middle of a series of sermons with a Stewardship emphasis. Stewardship, ultimately, is about our entire life. We use what God gives us to his glory and for the good of our neighbor. Over the next few months, we will consider the various ways we use the gifts God gives us as is God-pleasing.

          Each month, I will be sending out an email to further encourage what we pondered on the first Sunday of that month. In this way, the thoughts do not perish by that Sunday evening, but each one can give intentional consideration how he or she may put into practice what was proclaimed as a God-pleasing way to serve him.
          For the month of December, we continue to consider what it means to have A Life of Hospitality.

A LIFE OF HOSPITALITY

Week #2      Ask questions

            Perhaps the most intimidating part of being hospitable is that you don’t know anything about new people.  What do you even have to talk about?  What do you have in common?  What is there to say?

            If you don’t know anything about someone who is new to you, you have an almost unlimited source of topics to talk about.  But make it easy on yourself.  Let them guide the discussion: Ask them questions.  Find out who they are and where they are from.  What brings them in?  Do they have family?  Can you get them some coffee?  Their initial answers should offer something to springboard into other topics.  Chances are one of those topics will find some connection where you do have interest.

            What if there are no areas of common interest?  If that is actually the case, ask about their interests.  You probably won’t take up their hobbies, but you can learn a little more about the way they think.  It will be enlightening to understand that.  For example, you meet a person who has a string of tattoos up his or her arm.  If you think tattoos are a waste of time and money, you might recoil from conversation or ignore the person.  Try this instead: Ask him about what the symbols are on his arm.  Do they signify anything?  (They usually do.)  How did he decide to do that?  Was it awkward getting it done on the back side of his arm?  (You can decide for yourself how bold you want to be; some questions might seem a little too personal.)  These questions show an interest in that person.  They will appreciate your interest and will likely reciprocate with questions of their own.  And even if their answers are less that godly, you will at least learn about other people.  You may develop a compassion for others you had not held before.  You may learn to appreciate that, having lived your life according to God’s word, you have been preserved from some very bad decisions. 

If that person whom you just met ends up being a fellow Christian, you get to learn that through your questions and conversation.  If he is not, you have begun to pave the way for a confession of faith and an invitation for the person to get to know more.  That never happens when we recoil or turn in disgust.  If you ask questions, demonstrate interest, and have a conversation, you at least bear witness that Christians are not “too good” for other people.  It is part of “Love your neighbor,” as different as your neighbor might be—even if your neighbor has no interest in the kingdom of God.  A life of hospitality is a life that loves the neighbor and seeks his good.  Only by asking questions can you learn what good you can do for that neighbor.