Gift of Hospitality (I Peter 4:9)

This gift is the ability to reach out to others and welcome them into your home and life in a loving, warm manner, while providing food and lodging, such that the guests feel “at home” in your presence.

This gift is not clearly delineated with other gifts and may be a specific application of the Gift of Service. (I Peter 4:9-11)
All believers are to exhibit hospitality. (Hebrews 13:2)
Hospitality in general is a qualification for spiritual leadership (I Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8) and for widows who are supported by the church. (I Timothy 5:10)
This gift is to be used to provide for itinerant ministers (missionaries, etc.). (III John 5-8)
The people with this gift need to see themselves as an extension of their guest’s ministry and, therefore, as accountable for their guest’s teachings.

Biblical Examples:

Acts 16:15 — Lydia
Acts 21:4,7,8,16 — Paul’s accommodations
Romans 16:23; III John 5-8 — Gaius
Philemon 2:22 — Philemon

Possible Characteristics of this Gift:

You often pray that God will use your home to accommodate visitors.
You enjoy meeting new people.
You enjoy having visitors in your home, and often have people staying with you.
You enjoy preparing meals for guests.
You are relaxed entertaining people in your home and enjoy having people over who you do not know well.
You are quick to invite people you have just met to your home.
People feel very comfortable in your home and do not feel as if they are imposing. They often “kick off their shoes” and find it easy to relax.
You are not upset if your home is not in perfect order when someone drops in.
Many people just stop by.
You often open your home for Bible studies and social functions.
You enjoy asking neighbors over.
Others see you as a friendly and open person.