Vayeira

Hashem came to visit Avraham on the third day after Avraham's circumcision. While He was visiting, Avraham saw people in the distance and Avraham, whose desire to be hospitable came before his own health, asked Hashem to wait a minute while he went to invite the men in as his guests. As Rashi's second explanation of the posuk states, אם נא מצאתי חן בעיניך אל נא תעבר מעל עבדך, if I find favor in your eyes, please pass not away from Your servant. This refers to Hashem not leaving Avraham until he gets back from his guests.

The gemara in Shabbos says that this posuk teaches us that hospitality to travelers is even greater than receiving the Divine Presence. The Simchas Aharon asks how could it be that the merit is greater when you honor an ordinary human being than when honoring the One that created them?
He answers that when one honors his friend and goes all out for him, it's a definite show of love. However, when one shows that same respect for his friend’s child, it's an even greater expression of love for the friend.

The only reason you’re welcoming the child is for the sake of the father since you don’t even get the feeling of camaraderie that you would feel with the friend himself. Therefore, it's an even greater expression of love toward your friend. When we respect Hashem, we are honoring our father. However, when we respect His children it's an even more powerful expression of love toward Hashem. So Avraham’s asking Hashem to wait was really honoring Hashem. Or, as Reb Avraham Chaim Feuer explains, there is no greater form of honor as emulation; when one welcomes guests he's emulating Hashem who would much rather you emulate Him then entertain Him.

The next posuk, though, says that Avraham told them יקח נא מעט מים take a little water to wash your feet which Rashi explains that he gave them the water via a messenger. Hashem then paid him back via a messenger. The Chaftetz Chaim explains that Avraham’s shortcoming was that he didn't do it himself; it's more honorable for a guest if he's served by the master of the house than by a messenger so Avraham should have been more careful with his guest’s feelings.

One year, late on the eve of bedicas chametz, R' Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld heard a knock at the door signaling the arrival of four respected community leaders from Budapest. After they talked for a while, the men asked if they could come to the rabbi for the seder the next night, an experience they said would be priceless. They offered to pay for the extra expense he would incur for them. ‎ When the rabbi agreed to host them and to accept their payment they were ecstatic although surprised that he took their payment. They had been assured that he would never accept their money. They returned the next night for the seder and were not let down by what they later described as "one of the most awesome experiences of our lives”.

On the first night of Chol Hamoed, R' Yosef came to his guests’ hotel room and put the money they had given him on the table. Since they lived outside of Eretz Yisroel and kept two days of Yom Tov, they couldn't even give it back to him. One of them asked R’ Yosef Chaim what the meaning was behind his action; if he didn't want the money, why take it initially? He answered that Pesach is the holiday of freedom and what kind of freedom is there for a person to feel like he's partaking of someone else's meal? Therefore I accepted your payment in order for you to comfortable in my home. Now that you enjoyed your Yom Tov, I can return your money.

Perhaps this can teach us how to treat other people, especially guests in our home. In addition to looking out for their needs, we must do it in the most honorable way. This would demonstrate that we really care for the other person which shows Hashem that we care for his children, thereby showing our ultimate respect for Him!