THE PRACTICE HANDBOOK FOR THE DISTRICT SERVING ONES
SERIES THREE
PRACTICAL SERVICES
Message Ten
Hospitality and Transportation
Heb. 13:2 Do not forget hospitality, for through this some, without knowing it, have entertained angels.
Titus 3:13 Zenas the lawyer and Apollos send forward diligently that nothing may be lacking to them.
THE HOSPITALITY IN THE BIBLE
Abraham Giving Hospitality to Jehovah
Genesis 18:1-15 says, “Jehovah appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre as he was sitting at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and there were three men standing opposite him. And when he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them. And he bowed down to the earth and said, My Lord, if I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass on from Your servant. Please let a little water be fetched, and do wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And let me fetch a morsel of bread that you may sustain yourselves. After that you may pass on, since you have come to your servant. So they said, Do as you have said. And Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, Quickly prepare three measures of fine flour, knead it, and make cakes. And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it. And he took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set them before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate. (CWWL, 1971, vol. 2, “The Great Mystery—Christ and the Church,” msg. 2)
Gaius Giving Hospitality to the Whole Church
The last mention of the church in Romans regards hospitality. “Gaius, my host, and of the whole church, greets you” (v. 23). Without hospitality there is something lacking in the practical church life. If there is no hospitality in a certain church, that church must be poor. However, the more hospitality you have, the richer your church life will be. Gaius was not only the host of one apostle, but the host of the entire church. I do not believe that he rendered hospitality to the whole church all at once, but that probably the saints who traveled to his city and perhaps remained there for a while, received hospitality from him. His home was open and available to all the saints. The genuine church life depends upon this kind of hospitality. When a home is open to hospitality, it will be filled with the blessing of Christ. We praise the Lord that the more hospitality we render, the greater will be our experience of the church life. This is practical. (Life-study of Romans, msg. 30)
Here Paul names a brother who provided hospitality to the whole church. Obviously, Paul is speaking of the local church, not of the universal church. It is important that Paul points out that Gaius was the host of the whole church, not of all the saints. There is a difference between showing hospitality to the church and showing hospitality to the saints, for we may care for the saints without caring for the church. But Paul’s concept in this book is related not mainly to the saints, but to the church. In our giving of hospitality, the church must be in our consciousness and concept. As you extend hospitality to others, what concept do you have? Do you hold the concept that you are providing hospitality to the saints or to the church? If you have the proper concept, you will realize that your hospitality is not simply to certain saints, but to the whole church. (Life-study of Romans, msg. 59)
Paul Asking the Saints in Rome to Receive Phoebe
The section in verses 1 through 24 of chapter 16 contains Paul’s commendations, greetings, and charges. Verse 1 says, “I commend Phoebe our sister, who is a deaconess of the church which is in to you Cenchrea.” Cenchrea was near Corinth, and there was a church there. This sister, Phoebe, was a deaconess of this local church. The Greek word for deacon denotes a serving one. a special title but simply referred to anyone who served in the church. This sister Phoebe was such a one.
In verse 2 Paul charges the saints in Rome to “receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints and assist her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been the patroness of many, of myself as well.” Paul asks the saints in Rome to receive Phoebe in a manner worthy of the saints. This word has a twofold meaning. On the one hand, the receiving one is worthy of the saints, and on the other hand, the one being received is worthy of the saints.
When we receive a brother or sister, we should not receive him or her as a stranger, for that is not receiving in a manner worthy of the saints. The way we receive, the condition of our receiving, and the procedure of our care must all be in a manner worthy of the condition of the saints, so that people may sense the flavor of the Lord and not of the world. Receiving in a manner worthy of the saints issues in the Lord’s presence. If the receiving of brothers and sisters is unworthy of the saints, that is, neither the receiving one nor the one being received is worthy of the saints, or the place and means of receiving are not in a manner worthy of the saints, such a receiving is improper. (CWWL, 1952, vol. 2, “Revelations in Romans: Seeing God’s Complete Salvation,” msg. 34)
GIVING HOSPITALITY BEING ONE KIND OF GIFT
The most difficult thing for some Christians is to give hospitality. Some saints are willing to do whatever the brothers ask of them, except give hospitality. Giving hospitality is too troublesome. In the church, in the past there was always the practice of giving hospitality among the saints. In recent years, however, the saints seem to have lost this grace. Thus, they have also lost the gift. Nevertheless, there are some who having received God’s grace are not only willing to give hospitality but also consider it the sweetest matter. In this way, giving hospitality has become their gift. From this we see that gifts are produced out of grace and are given to us according to the grace within us. (CWWL, 1956, vol. 2, “Three Aspects of the Church, Book 3: The Organization of the Church,” msg. 10)
Ministering Grace to Our Guests by Extending Hospitality
Many times we extend hospitality to others. This extending of hospitality is a gift. However, what we are doing is not only the giving of hospitality. By extending hospitality we become stewards of the varied grace of God. By extending hospitality we minister grace, which is Christ as life, to our guests. However, it is possible to extend hospitality without ministering life. Too many times we give hospitality, but instead of ministering life we minister death. If morning and evening we merely pass on gossip to our guests, we are ministering death; this is a killing. Instead of supplying grace, we supply germs. Our function is not merely to do things, but by doing these things we minister Christ as grace to others. Those who are ushers in the meetings minister Christ to others by their ushering. Those who clean the meeting hall not only clean, but by their cleaning they minister Christ as life and grace. We all have received a gift so that we may be the good stewards of the varied grace of God.
I observed a sister in China who did nothing but wash clothes for our guests. Simply by that washing, this sister ministered life all the time. Anyone who contacted her through her washing of clothes had the sense that life was ministered to him. This is the principle of the genuine service. The unique principle concerning service in 1 Peter 4 is that all the functions are not merely to do a job but to minister Christ as life and grace to others. (CWWL, 1965, vol. 2, “Functioning in Life as Gifts Given to the Body of Christ,” msg. 6)
Receiving the Heavenly King’s Apostles Being the Receiving of Him
In 10:40—11:1 we have the matter of identification with the heavenly King. Verse 40 says, “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him Who sent Me.” The apostles sent by the heavenly King, having been entrusted with His authority (v. 1) and peace (v. 13) and having been indwelt by the Spirit of the Father (v. 20) and identified with the King in His suffering (vv. 22, 24-25) and death (vv. 21, 34-39), were one with Him. Thus, he who receives them receives Him. To participate in such an identification with the heavenly King requires us to love Him above all, at any cost, and to follow Him by taking the narrow way of the cross, as revealed in verses 37 through 39. Not only do the sent ones have the King’s authority and peace and the Spirit of the Father, but they are also one with the King and are identified with Him. To receive the King’s sent ones means to receive the King Himself, because the sent ones are identified with the King. This is an encouragement to those who are sent. In the Lord’s recovery we have the authority, the peace, the Spirit, and the identification with our King. We are one with Him. Whoever receives us receives the King, and whoever rejects us rejects the King. This is not an insignificant matter. It is very serious. (Life-study of Matthew, msg. 30)
Becoming the Fellow Workers in the Truth
by Rendering Hospitality to the Traveling Brothers
In verses 7 and 8 John indicates that by rendering hospitality to the traveling brothers, we may become fellow workers with those who go out for the sake of the truth. Verse 7 says, “For on behalf of the Name they went out, taking nothing from the Gentiles.” The Name here is the exalted and glorious Name of the wonderful Christ (Phil. 2:9; Acts 5:41; James 2:7). Since the time of the Lord’s ascension, there has never been a name on earth above that of Jesus.
In verse 8 John concludes, “We therefore ought to support such, that we may become fellow workers in the truth.” The Greek word translated “support” is hupolambano, made up of two words: hupo, under, and lambano, to take; hence, to take up from underneath, that is, to undertake, to sustain, to support. We, the believers including the apostle, ought to support and undertake for the need of the brothers who work for God in His divine truth and who take nothing from the Gentiles. If we support the traveling workers, we participate in the work and thereby become fellow workers in the truth. (Life-study of 3 John, msg. 1)
CONCERNING HOSPITALITY
Being More Prepared When We Give Hospitality
Concerning rising up to meet the Lord’s need, there are many lessons we should learn. Even though some saints talk to people, it is not easy for them to enter into their feeling or to understand them. This is due to a lack of learning. I once saw a brother who was improper in the matter of giving hospitality, and I said to him, “Brother, you must be more prepared when you give hospitality.” He replied that he asked his guests about their needs, and they said that they did not need anything. I responded, “We should not be so foolish and accepting of their words. While our guests would not lie, they also do not want to be impolite.” Our brother was too simple and accepting, believing everything his guests said. When they said that they could do without soap or hot water, it did not mean that they had no need of them. This brother’s service shows that he did not understand people’s needs, so how could he serve people well?
When the saints come to us, we often do not understand their words, and sometimes our understanding is the exact opposite of what they mean. As Christians, we should learn to speak truthfully more than politely. I have been learning this lesson for over twenty years, and I have almost learned it. When I take hospitality in a saint’s house, I always tell them what I need when they ask, “Do you need to eat something?” As Christians, we must learn lessons. In particular, when we serve people, we must learn to know them, understand their words, and know their desires. Only then can we rise up to meet the Lord’s need.
Considering Everything Related to Hospitality
If the Lord arranges for us to be responsible for receiving guests from out of town, we should consider everything related to hospitality. For example, what will the guests need when they step into the house? What will they need in their rooms? What other needs will they have? We must carefully consider these matters. Only in this way can we be useful in our service. (CWWL, 1953, vol. 1, “Knowing Life and the Church,” msg. 17)
In general, people between the ages of twenty and thirty-five tend to have fewer problems. It is easy for a person who is over fifty to become a problem to others. A church that is experienced in providing hospitality knows that it might receive criticism from guests who are close to the age of sixty. However, when the guests are young people in their twenties, they are more flexible; they do not care whether it is hot or cold, whether the window is open or closed, or whether they have a blanket. The young people do not care for any of these matters; neither do they criticize. (CWWL, 1986, vol. 1, “Three Crucial Matters for the Increase and Building Up of the Church—Begetting, Nourishing, and Teaching,” msg. 22)
Not Being Forgetful of Hospitality
Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not be forgetful of hospitality, for through this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” How we need hospitality in the church life in the Lord’s recovery today. No one can estimate how much hospitality has built up the Lord’s testimony since the beginning of the Lord’s recovery in this country. Hospitality truly edifies. It brings much new blood into the fellowship of the Body. How we thank the Lord for this! In Romans 12:13 we are told to pursue hospitality, and in 1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:8, and 1 Peter 4:9 (Gk.) we are admonished to be hospitable. Among us, brotherly love should continue and hospitality should not be forgotten. (Life-study of Hebrews, msg. 55)
Given Faithfully in Love, and
Worthily of God
In verses 5 and 6 John goes on to say, “Beloved, you do faithfully in whatever you may have wrought for the brothers, and this for strangers, who testified to your love before the church, whom you will do well to send forward worthily of God.” Here John speaks concerning hospitality to traveling workers. In verse 5 “whatever” refers to the hospitality afforded (as taught by Paul in Romans 12:13 and Hebrews 13:2), the receiving of the brothers (3 John 10) who traveled for the gospel and the ministry of the Word. The word “this” also indicates hospitality rendered to those brothers who went out for the sake of the truth. Because those brothers were not acquainted with Gaius, the one who received this Epistle, they were strangers to him. (Life-study of 3 John, msg. 1)
Opening Our Home Requiring the Growth and Maturity
Opening our home to receive guests in a way that does not damage but builds up also requires the growth in life. In China it was customary for people to wash their feet each evening. Those who gave hospitality provided warm water for the guests to wash their feet. If the water was very hot, the guest might complain. The host might answer that the guest should simply wait a few minutes for the water to cool down. In such a situation both would be offended, and there would be no building up. Perhaps the host would later complain to the elders and refuse to offer hospitality in the future. One of the most difficult things in the church life is to give hospitality in a proper way. However, there has been much building up by hospitality. Proper hospitality may be used by the Lord more than spoken messages. We should not think that because we are not a gifted speaker, we cannot build some growth in life, we can build up others by giving hospitality. It is not sufficient merely to learn to be a good host. Learning may work for a short time but will not last. Only growth and maturity in the Lord can cause us to love others and be humble and patient. With adequate growth and maturity, if our guests complain, we will apologize and promise to improve our care for them. In this way even a mistake or a complaint can lead to building up and afford us an opportunity to minister life to others. Such ministering and building come not by teaching or knowledge but by growth and maturity. When our guests see our care for them, they will feel built up and will never forget our care. This kind of building up may be more prevailing than high meetings or messages. (CWWL, 1970, vol. 2, “The Spirit and the Lord’s Recovery,” ch. 6)
THE REWARD OF RECEIVING PEOPLE
Matthew 10:41 says, “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.” A prophet is one who speaks for God and speaks forth God. A righteous man is one who seeks after righteousness, who does righteousness, and who is persecuted for righteousness for the kingdom (5:6, 10, 20; 6:1). The heavenly King was such a Prophet sent by God (Deut. 18:15) and such a righteous man (Acts 3:14). His apostles sent by Him, having been identified with Him, were also such prophets and righteous men. Hence, whoever receives them shall receive a reward. One who receives a prophet is joined to the prophet’s word, and one who receives a righteous man is joined to the righteousness of the righteous man. Thus, such a one shall receive a reward as the prophet and as the righteous man.
The King’s sent ones go out as prophets and as righteous men. The prophet always comes with the word of God, and the righteous man always comes with righteousness. If you receive the prophet, you will receive the word of God; and if you receive the righteous man, you will receive his righteousness. How good it is to have the word of God and righteousness! This will help us to be ushered into both the reality of the kingdom today and also the manifestation of the kingdom in the future. (Life-study of Matthew, msg. 30)
TRANSPORTATION IN THE BIBLE
Abraham Walking with God to Bring Him on the Way
Genesis 18:16 says that then “the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.” Abraham walked with them for a certain distance to conduct them, to send them away. Often when guests come to visit us, we walk them out to their car after their visit, seeing them on their way. Abraham’s walking with his visitors was like one sending his friend away. (Life-Study of Genesis, msg. 50)
Apostle Paul’s Fellowship Concerning Sending Forward
In Titus verses 12 and 13 Paul says, “When I send Artemas to you or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me to Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Zenas the lawyer and Apollos send forward diligently that nothing may be lacking to them.”
Paul’s word in verse 14 is related to what he says in verse 13: “And let those also who are ours learn to maintain good works for necessary needs, that they may not be unfruitful.” They were to take care of the needs of the Lord’s servants and to help them on their way. (Life-study of Titus, msg. 6)
MATTERS RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION IN THE CHURCH
Being Diligent to Practice This
Hospitality can be considered a kind of visitation and shepherding. The church has to continue in this work patiently. It should not only arrange transportation for the visiting brothers and sisters but should provide hospitality for them as well. Ten years ago in Manchuria, the rural churches were very good at hospitality. They might not have known you, but as long as you were a brother or a sister, they would receive you freely. The church in Shanghai is not that attentive to the needs of the brothers and sisters from North China and Manchuria. But the Manchurian brothers and sisters are all very hospitable. People dwelling in big cities generally have less of a heart for hospitality. The church in Hong Kong may have the heart, but it may also have obstacles.
The Prerequisite to All This
Being a Mutual Love One for Another
The Bible is full of records of hospitality. We have to be zealous in this work. If a Christian does not open his home for visitors, he is either short of love or has problems with his family. Giving hospitality brings light into our homes. If there is nothing wrong with our homes, why should we be afraid of light? If we say that our home is too modest, this is understandable; the church can then pick up the burden of hospitality. But church hospitality is like hospitality in a hotel; it does not have the same taste as staying in a home. It does not give others the taste of Christ’s love and the blessing of heaven. If possible, we should even practice foot-washing. Suppose a worldly brother comes to Hong Kong and a family receives him. If this family is led by the Lord to wash his feet, I believe not only will his feet be washed, but his whole being will be washed as well. But the prerequisite to all this is a mutual love one for another. Today when we call each other brothers and sisters, we do not have the same feeling as the first church. Perhaps the underlying reason for this absence of feeling is our lack in hospitality. Church hospitality must be handled properly. On the one hand, this will help our guests to love the Lord. On the other hand, this will keep us from being drawn away to the world by our friends and relatives.
The Hospitality of Church Being
One Basic Hidden Work in the Gospel Propagation
One basic hidden work we have to do in the gospel propagation is the receiving of out-of-town visitors. In 1934 a sister’s husband and son returned from overseas. Neither of them were saved. The way they were sent away by the church touched the husband, and the way they were received by the church touched the son. In the end both were saved. Some brothers and sisters have been saved through hospitality. Hence, the church has to be diligent to practice this. (CWWN, vol. 61, “Matured Leadings in the Lord’s Recovery (1),” msg. 39)
Transporting Saints to the Meeting
In every locality there should be at least one ten-passenger van. Transportation in the rural areas is not convenient; buses do not run frequently. Therefore, these vans can be used to transport saints. Most saints do not own cars, and it may take them one or two hours to walk to the meeting. This is burdensome. It would be wonderful to have a vehicle that can transport ten saints to the meeting in one trip. In a locality where forty people meet together, if half of them require a ride, we will only need to make two trips. This is needed.
Transporting the Baptized Ones and the Serving Ones
Furthermore, if each of the one hundred newly established churches has a van, there will be one hundred gospel vans. The vans will all be of the same make and the same shape with a logo, such as “God loves the world” or “Jesus is Lord,” painted on them. When these one hundred vans travel from town to town, the townspeople will know that these are the gospel vans of the local churches.
Every church must have a van and a telephone. Then when the sisters go to preach the gospel and a person is willing to be baptized, they can contact the brothers to come and assist them in the baptism. These are some matters that we should pay attention to and for which we should be prepared. (CWWL, 1986, vol. 1, “Three Crucial Matters for the Increase and Building Up of the Church—Begetting, Nourishing, and Teaching,” msg. 21)
Transporting Children
It is a good work to care for the children. If we adequately care for all the children among us, they will become proper young brothers and sisters after a few years. Many of the sisters should spend the time to help in this work. In Taiwan, some of the sisters pick up the children from their various houses early each Lord’s Day, bring them to the children’s meeting, and serve with them as helpers. Then after the meeting, they take them home again. The sisters who serve in this way are a kind of “nurse,” or godly “mother,” to the ones they care for. Teachers help the children mainly in the classes, but there is still the need of a work with the children outside the meetings. If we ask the parents to send their children to the meetings, many may not do it. They may have the heart but not the means, since many are busy, and some do not have a car. Therefore, there is the need of some sisters to go out and do the work of pick up the children and taking them home again.
In Taipei there are several thousand children who meet with us. If one sister cares for ten to twenty, we still need a few hundred to go out on the Lord’s Day morning to pick up all the children. Those who do this should do it at their own expense, using their own car or even hiring a taxi to visit the homes. Following this, the teachers can conduct the meetings to help the children, while the serving ones care for them in a practical way or prepare a snack. Then after the meeting they can use their car or call another taxi to take the little ones back home. By caring for all these children in this way for several years, the serving ones will give them a very good impression and spontaneously become genuine “godmothers” to them. The children will respect these serving ones and listen carefully to them. To serve in this way is to do a good work. (CWWL, 1967, vol. 1, “Enjoying the Lord in His Word by Pray-Reading for the Building Up of the Church in Oneness,” msg. 4)
Making Others Sense Something Spiritual,
Heavenly, and Sweet in Our Transportation
The church may assign you to take care of transportation for visitors. Your view may be absolutely worldly, viewing it as a social function. The assignment may be carried out properly, but there is no spiritual value in the work and no spiritual exercise in the process. Transportation is not a spiritual work, but we should make others sense something spiritual, heavenly, and sweet in our transportation. Personally, I feel that this is a crucial test. We are required not only to exercise our wisdom and ability; we are also tested as to how strong our fellowship and communion are with God and how thorough and intimate our prayer is before Him. There is a place for our wisdom and our method, but the greatest test involves whether or not we live before the Lord. If we do not put all the things we are doing before the Lord, the things we do will carry the flavor of this world. If we do everything in the presence of the Lord, our actions will be heavenly, and we will bear a heavenly taste. (CWWN, vol. 61, “Matured Leadings in the Lord’s Recovery (1),” msg. 24)
Discussion:
1. How to arrange hospitality?
2. How to arrange transportation?
3. How to accompany the visiting saints?
