Gratitude and Generosity at WorkНамуна

The Rewards of Hospitality

The story of three travelers visiting Abraham and Sarah demonstrates what generous hospitality looked like in the ancient world, and how we can practice hospitality in our work today.

Semi-nomadic life in the country often brought people from different families into contact with one another, and Canaan was a popular trade route. In the absence of a formal hospitality industry, people living in cities and encampments had a social obligation to welcome strangers. An incoming stranger, who might represent a threat, could be transformed into an ally through the offer and acceptance of hospitality.

Abraham’s reaction to the strangers highlights several customs that were common in the Ancient Near-East. Only the male head of household could offer the invitation of hospitality. The stranger had the right to refuse, but this could be considered an affront to the honor of the host and could be a cause for immediate hostilities. Once the invitation was accepted, the roles of the host and the guest were governed by further rules of custom. The guest could not ask for anything. The host would provide the best of what he had available. The host would not ask personal questions of the guest. And the guest was expected to reciprocate immediately with news, predictions of good fortune, or expressions of gratitude for what he had been given.

These customs allowed hosts and guests to slowly build a relationship based on mutual disclosure and respect. Although these traditions might seem outdated today, the story of Abraham and Sarah’s hospitality still offers insights into building relationships that we can apply to our work.

By extending and accepting hospitality, people who start out as strangers get to know each other better. This is true whether the stranger is a new coworker, a boss or subordinate, or a potential client.

While it may no longer be practical to host strangers at home, this model of hospitality still applies to the workplace. Sharing an unhurried meal or an extended period of time together, two strangers can slowly build a new relationship. Good working relationships, like the relationships between hosts and guests in the ancient world, are marked by respectful boundaries and mutual disclosure. The result, as in Abraham and Sarah’s story, is blessings for all.

How does this apply to your work?