Hospitality in Light of Eschatology

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may
pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever
gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various
forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of
God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all
things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for
ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:7-11 NIV

Be Hospitable in the End Times

What does the end of all things mean for daily living? The Apostle Peter, through the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit gives directives to believers in light of the coming end. The directive is chiefly
to love one another, and the embodiment of that love is to be expressed through hospitality.

Love Because We Sin

Peter writes “Above all” (in other words, of chief priority, of first priority) – “love each other
deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” Rather than “the end is near, so do
whatever you want!” Peter instead calls for the church to do whatever they can to love one
another in service. Peter didn’t think the churches he was writing to were filled with sinless
people. Rather, because the church is filled with people who sin against each other, love each
other!

Each of Us Have Gifts

Verse 10 then connects love with gifting. That each of us have gifts, which are not for private
personal benefit, but for service in life together as the church: “Each of you should use whatever
gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms”.
As believers God has given to us all gifts, and we are to use those gifts in the service of each
other. Those gifts are different! We have not all been given the same “form” of gifts. We’ve all
been gifted, but each of us has different gifts and we should use those gifts in service to each
other. It’s hard to get to know each other’s gifts, or appreciate and thank God for each other’s
gifts, if we only see each other once a week (or maybe once a month). We get to see each
other’s gifts through living life together. That means seeing each other in more situations and
contexts than just in weekly worship.

Live Each Day as a Gift From God

Living a spiritual life in light of the end of all things doesn’t mean putting on a cardboard sign and
standing in the street screeching “the end is near!”. It means loving one another in the church,
even in the midst of the offenses we cause one another. It means having each other over for
encouragement and fellowship. It means living each day out as a gift from God, with all of our
activities offered as worshipful thanksgiving to God.