幾年前，我們教會接待了一些從國外來的難民，他們因政權更迭而被迫流亡。他們舉家逃難，只帶著一個小袋子能裝下的物品。我們教會有幾個家庭願意接待他們，有些家庭即使家中空間有限，也樂意款待他們。

這種充滿恩慈的款待，正符合以色列民在進入應許之地前，上帝對他們的吩咐。當時，以色列民是農耕民族，深知收成的重要性，每一點糧食都關係到他們能否支撐到隔年的收成。上帝囑咐以色列民，在收割的時候，不要回去撿先前遺落的莊稼，「要留給寄居的與孤兒寡婦」（申命記24章19節）。他們要實踐慷慨給予不是因自己充足有餘，而是要學習仰賴上帝的供應，「這樣，耶和華[他們的]上帝必在[他們]手裡所辦的一切事上賜福與[他們]」（19節）。上帝永遠充足有餘。

這種慷慨待人的吩咐也提醒以色列民，他們曾在埃及「作過奴僕」（22節）。雖然我們未必經歷過這樣的壓迫，但我們都曾被視為外人或有缺乏的時候。當我們給予他人時，也當想起上帝已給了我們最基本的需要，就是脫離罪的捆綁。「惟有基督在我們還作罪人的時候為我們死」（羅馬書5章8節）。

當我們樂意款待別人，就是頌揚那位慷慨的上帝，祂喜愛「捐得樂意的人」（哥林多後書9章7節）。

A few years ago, our church hosted refugees fleeing their country because of a change in their political leadership. Entire families came with only what they could fit in a small bag. Several of our church families opened their homes, some with little room to spare.

Such gracious hospitality echoes God’s command to the Israelites before they inhabited the promised land. As an agricultural society, they understood the importance of the harvest. Every bit of food would be essential to get them through until next year’s harvest. God told the Israelites when harvesting not to go back to retrieve what they may have missed. “Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow” (Deuteronomy 24:19). They were to practice generosity not by giving when they knew they had enough but by giving out of a heart of trusting in God’s provision “so that the Lord [their] God may bless [them] in all the work of their hands” (v. 19). God always has enough.

The practice of hospitality also reminded them that they had been “slaves in Egypt” (v. 22). While we may not have experienced such oppression, we’ve all experienced being an outsider or being in need. As we give to others, we do well to remember our most basic need: freedom from our sin. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

When we’re hospitable, we celebrate our generous God, who “loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).