Message: Paying it Forward (Random Acts Of Kindness)
by Frank Schaefer

  
PowerPoint Presentation

Film Trailer

Song Suggestions (See PPT for lyrics):
Give Me Your Eyes (Brandon Heath)
Brother (Need To Breathe)


Scripture Reading: Matthew 18:23-33

Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle the accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But since he was not able to pay, his master ordered that he be sold with his wife, their children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

"So the servant fell on his knees, pleading with him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. "But that same servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe.' "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and entreated him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'

"But he would not and went and threw him in prison until he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what took place, they were very sorry and went and told their master all that had taken place. "Then his master, after he had summoned him, said to him, 'O you wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you?'

 

Message: Paying it Forward (Random Acts Of Kindness)

While this parable definitely teaches us something about forgiveness, it also teaches about another principle that has been called: "Paying it forward!" This principle was popularized by author Catherine Ryan Hyde in her novel Pay It Forward (1999). In the year 2000, she founded the Pay it Forward Foundation, a non-profit that has been actively sought to put into practice this principle (the stories on their website are amazing). Her book inspired the Holywood film by the same name.

At this point I would like to present a short trailer of the film which explains Hyde's understanding of the "pay it forward" principle.

[Play Video]

According to a Wikipedia article (1) Jesus' parable from Matthew 18 is at the root of the pay-it-forward concept: The King had shown the man mercy. It was an act of paying a good deed forward. The man shown mercy was now expected to show same mercy to other people, which he failed to do. According to this interpretation paying it forward is a requirement for those who have received God's forgiveness.

The Pay it Forward Principle is clear: You don't pay love back; you pay it forward. Someone else gives you a gift in your hour of need, you don't pay them for it. You return their favor by giving someone else a gift in their hour of need. So, when I help someone out because their in desperate need, I don't want that person to pay me back when the'yre back on their feet, unless, of course, I have fallen on hard times. But it would give me great joy if I learned that this person I helped, helped someone else in their hour of need.

So, what can we do to pay it forward to people? A few years ago a new concept was born which some called "random act of kindness" They are defined as a selfless acts performed by a person or persons wishing to either help or inspire an individual. Random Acts of kindness are a way to pay it forward.

They are different from acts you extend to your loved ones. When parents raise their children, they're engaging in many acts of kindness. They are paying it forward for sure, but it's motivated by something that's in our biology to ensure the survival of our genetic heritage.

Now random acts of kindness, on the other hand, come without biological attachment. They are simply motivated by a higher love. They aim to help shape this world into the vision of how God imagines the world-- a human society filled with love, peace and justice.

Being kind to others, and especially strangers, is a well documented concept in the Scriptures:

- Jeremiah 31:3 "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with
loving-kindness.
- Ephesians 4:32: Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God
in Christ forgave you.
- Colossians 4:12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate
hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience...
- 1Cor 13:4 - Love is patient and kind
- Proverbs 11:17: A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.

Random acts of kindness are often anonymous acts, with the benefactor not wanting to be known. I have been on the receiving end of random acts of kindness; when I was going through seminary to study for the ministry, trying to juggle my, studies, a job and feeding the family, every Christmas my family I received an anonymous envelope with one hundred dollars in it. . . and to this day I have no clue who gave it to us! Somebody was paying it forward. How is a monetary gift a spiritual act of kindness? It's not just that it helped us out of a jam financially. It was much more than that. It was a message that reassured me and my family not to worry. It was a symbolic act that said: "Don't worry, God will take care of you!"

Conclusion:

Whenever we see people act in selfless acts of kindness we witness the gospel being put into action. It is the moment when we see the love of God breaking through in our every-day lives.

Today's message is about a challenge Jesus sets before all of us. It's about paying it forward; without expecting instant rewards or acknowledgments. It's about blessing others with selfless acts of kindness in the hope that those people we bless will, in turn, bless others. It's all about changing the world with one spiritual act of kindness at the time.

When you start paying it forward with random acts of kindness, the world will never be the same! Can you think about a time someone showed you a Random Act of Kindness?
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pay_it_forward