He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that hecan encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. Titus 1:9
Verse 8 continues, without a break in the sentence, to enumerate some positive and observable characteristics of blameless conduct. The leader must be hospitable. This widely praised virtue in that day was practically a social obligation for the householder. It also became a mark of Christian behavior (Rom 12:13; 1 Pet 4:9). What sometimes passes for hospitality today (the entertainment of friends and church members, often with the expectation of a return invitation) is a rather dim reflection of the New Testament concept. The practice of hospitality among Christians was often urgent, sacrificial and risky: urgent because Christians might be forced from homes or jobs with no one to turn to but fellow Christians; sacrificial because material goods were often in short supply; risky because to associate oneself with those who had been forced out meant to identify with their cause. Thus hospitality required sacrificial sharing and stretching. It was a very practical expression of love, not a source of entertainment. While the practice of hospitality had primarily the needs of believers in mind, there is no reason that it could not be a way of showing concern for unbelievers. The importance of this practice for the church, in either case, required that a leader must model it for all (1 Tim 3:2; 5:10).
In reading Paul's Pastoral Letters, I have found a good challenge to being a better leader, but more importantly a more hospitable Disciple. I can associate with the fact that being hospitable is urgent, risky and sacrificial. I'm glad we're having our house warming party soon, because it gets me to the point that I need to share my home, even if I've got to sell my liver to put food out for everyone.
