I watched this show Pay it Forward yesterday. It’s a really old show but a really good show. I’m not about to write a movie review about it but it had something very valuable. Whether does pay it forward is a concept that is practiced by people in reality, is a totally subjective matter as it would create an idealistic world, something many crave, hope and pray for. What “Pay it forward” basically means you perform three acts of helpfulness where one is incapable of helping oneself; to three different people. First and foremost, I’m just speaking on a very human basis level, no religion ties involve. If really everyone did do so, I believe that it can make a change in this world. Even if it was done out of obligation and not out of pure willingness. I mean lets place all our human disagreements and preferences aside for once, and just for once help another human for that person is another human being.
Yes, I do have that nagging thought that there are people who are out there just to take advantage of another person’s good deed. Would taking the person’s help at face value, would be foolish? Or maybe naïve? Besides that, who are you (who am I) to say that another person’s cry out for help is not genuine? What if you were in that person’s scenario? How would you feel if others were to treat you likewise…I know I’m guilty of this pre-conception and judging people before having even hearing them out. This world has gone from simplicity to complexity, the fact is things can’t be turned back to the way it once was. It won’t and it never will. So since people aren’t going to help people, let me place an extra filter on-top of this.
Christians. We are supposed to be the salt and light of the world. Yet, sometimes we don’t do the simplest of things for others because it is of inconvenience to us, and we then wonder why when we try to reach out to them, they reject the gospel. I’m speaking from experience; I know I have failed in that aspect one way or the other so I’m not pointing fingers at everyone apart from myself. We are sometimes so blinded by our own pride and righteousness and when the answer to our common query lies right in front of us, we fail ever so to see it. Utterly disappointing, we tend to forget that we once were no different from the people who are lost.
Take the parable of the Good Samaritan for example: Luke 10:30-37
30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.
34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 On the next day, when he departed,[j] he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’
36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
We are sometimes like the Priest and the Levite. And someone else who doesn’t share the same faith show more compassion and soul than us who are supposedly the ones who have it. Don’t you think so? Sometimes we make the devil’s job so easy, that it doesn’t have to do anything…which leaves me sick in the gut that we’re giving it such a big foot hole all the time. Don’t blame that buggar for everything; you’re giving it to much credit.
In closing, I pray that God will give those of us who have struggled in this area compassion to want to be the outstretch arm for people and discernment to tell apart from those who mean us harm or genuinely seek help.
Matthew 5:44 - 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you
Luke 6:28 - 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
Luke 6:28 - 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
