She Extended an Invitation
“Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food.” 2 Kings 4:8
In this passage we are introduced to a woman. What does the text say about her? She lived in a place called Shunem. She was married and childless which, in that time, was the equivalent of being cursed. She was wealthy. One version says notable and another ‘well-to-do.’ She was hospitable and extended the invitation of hospitality.
One thing, I believe, we can all relate to is the invitation to join someone for a meal. How often is there a person you meet that you want to get to know better? What is typically the first thing we do? We invite this person to meet us for a coffee or a meal and at times we even invite them into our home for dinner.
I recently read two differing stories about people in church. In one a woman attended a church faithfully every Sunday for four years yet did not really know anyone. During this time, she was never invited to anyone’s home for a meal. On the day she decided to attend elsewhere and shared this news with another person in the church. The response was, “I must know what’s happening and why you’re deciding to leave, please come over to my home for lunch.”
In another story there was a couple who shared with their pastor that they had been going to his church for some time and didn’t really know anyone…they longed for deep community. The pastor recommended they start inviting others over for a meal. They took his advice and over the course of the next year they invited someone different for a meal every week. At the end of that year they were well loved in the community and knew nearly everyone! How true it is that we would fill this heart cry for community if we initiated an invitation to others to come into our space and share a meal.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” - Acts 2:42
“They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” Acts 2:46-47
We can deeply know and be known if we were intentional in extending an invitation for breaking bread with others. This is the beauty of ServantCARE hospitality homes. Hosts are actively opening their homes and extending an invitation of hospitality to others.
She Chose Sacrifice over Self
And she said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.” 2 Kings 4:9-10
Hospitality started over a meal…but it didn’t stay there. The woman recognized the anointing on Elisha’s life. I could guess that over the many meals they shared (as he passed by them ‘regularly’) that they got to know Elisha and his servant more intimately. By the shared stories and testimonies, Elisha’s experiences came alive in front of them. Thus she understood this was a ‘holy man of God.’ She saw there was an additional need that needed to be met and realized she had the capability to do so. But it would be a sacrifice and there would be a cost. Without hesitancy she asks her husband to add an addition onto their home for this guest.
Hold on just a minute…can you imagine that? Usually, we are hosting others in our current guest rooms or in the extra space that we already have available. Not this woman! She expanded her home with the sole purpose of accommodating the man of God. She wasn’t looking at her current lack of space and coming to a conclusion based on what she had. She wasn’t saying, “Well, we don’t have a guest room, I guess we can’t help.” She was determined to be the one to host Elisha.
Have you ever added an addition onto your home before? Or have you undertaken a major home renovation project? There is a major cost in this. Not just a financial cost, but the cost of time, the cost of energy. It can be all-consuming…especially if you’re living in the same space you are renovating.
Usually the renovations we make are to benefit ourselves or our family. This renovation, however, was for the sole benefit of someone else. There was the cost of adding a room & furnishing that room. He needed a bed to sleep in. He needed a chair to sit on. For studying and praying he needed a table and a lampstand. She was intentional and together with her husband was joyful to pay the cost of accomplishing this goal. She chose sacrifice over self.
Sacrifice can often be seen as a harsh word because with it comes personal cost. Indeed that is true but the beauty is not only in the paying of the cost but also in the fulfillment. It’s a cost paid in order to benefit someone else.
Similarly Jesus paid the cost of His life so that every person who puts their faith in Him can benefit greatly. What sacrifice is God putting on your heart so that you can begin hosting? Or so that those whom you are hosting can benefit in a greater way?
She Reaped the CARE She Sowed
“And it happened one day that he came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay down there. Then he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite woman.” When he had called her, she stood before him. And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’ ”She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” So he said, “What then is to be done for her?” And Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.” So he said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the doorway. Then he said, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.”
And she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!” But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her.” 2 Kings 4:11-17
One day Elisha stops by as usual, lays down and he is stirred to do something for the woman. He says ‘you’ve been concerned for us with all this CARE. What can I do for you?”
She was wealthy. She was married. She apparently didn’t want Elisha to speak to the king or commander of the army on her behalf. You want a meeting with the Governor? Mayor? Military General? The most influential people in your country? Nah. I’m good.
But there was something…something she could not achieve, purchase, or obtain in her own power. It needed to be from God. It needed to be supernatural.
Isn’t it interesting that God brought together these people to fulfill each other's needs? This is one of the beautiful things about Hospitality and the Body of Christ. Elisha needed a meal, needed a bed, a warm room, genuine hospitality, friendship. She desired a child. Separately, they both had a lack. Together, however, God met their needs through one another.
This is a beautiful picture of the Body of Christ.
And this is also the heart of ServantCARE. It’s why we capitalize the word “care.” We CARE. We truly have a desire to meet the needs of God’s servants that pass by us. And God puts people together to mutually meet one another's needs in powerful ways.
Hospitality connects the Body of Christ like few other avenues can.
While this was more than likely not her initial motivation to host, I can only guess how blown away she was with God’s CARE toward her. And how wonderful it must have been for Elisha and his servant to see and experience her joy in conceiving a son - so powerful.
For those of you reading this who are ServantCARE hosts: We’re so grateful for you - our Hospitality Home Hosts! You willingly and selflessly open your most sacred space - your home, and invite strangers to share a meal and to stay for a night, a week, sometimes longer. As you provide rest, refreshment and genuine hospitality to God’s servants, may you be greatly encouraged, what you’re doing matters!
And we hope you too, like the Shunamite woman, will experience the same CARE you’re sowing.
