Pay it forward was a trendy movement a couple of years ago. In 2014 a major coffee chain had 750 strangers pay it forward. Each stranger paid for the coffee of the customer behind them over two days. It was heralded as “It’s truly a testament to the goodwill of our customers.” What amazing arrogance would make these people believe they had performed an act of goodwill when the only thing that happened was the first person paid for the last person. The 748 people in between paid for their coffee at a random price. This chain sold coffee for upwards of $7.00, while McDonald’s sold it for under $1.00. It was all about people with money making believe they were helping people with money.
Is that really what it means to pay it forward?
Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
PAY IT FORWARD, GREG SMITH STYLE
Over ten years ago, I was at the lowest point of my life. Because the situation involved another, I will spare the details. For my part, I was left without enough money to buy food or gas to get to work. The work was a new company I was starting that had no revenue. I was desperate, desperate enough to give up my dream of forming this new company and going to work for someone else.
This led me to a friend of mine, Greg Smith. I went to him, hat in hand, asking for a job. Greg did something unexpected. He wrote me a check and told me to return to work at my new company. The extraordinary part of this gesture was not the money but the compassion and love. It was something I had never experienced in my life. It was utterly unconditional.
Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
I had been a Christian for some time. I had seen God move in amazing ways but never experienced it. It was life-changing. It immediately changed my view of my mission. I was now more committed than ever to being fruitful. Part of that commitment would lead me to join International Micro Enterprise Development.
ENMA STYLE
Proverbs 16:3, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”
I met Enma in Honduras. She and her husband have a business where they make custom furniture by hand in their home. Her husband, working as a janitor, learned furniture making by watching the artisans in a furniture-making business where he worked. COVID caused them to go out on their own. They needed help—enter International Micro Enterprise Development, a Christian-based ministry that helps the underserved by teaching and funding entrepreneurship. IMED gave them a small loan to improve their business. They bought a power saw, an upholstery stapler, and a sewing machine. Here is what they produced.
The name of their company is Eliaquim. Eliaquim is derived from the Hebrew “‘Elyâqı̂ym,” meaning “God provides.” When a visitor to a house with their furniture asks where the host bought their furniture, the answer is “God Provides’.
Changed Lives.
PAY IT FORWARD, HOMESTYLE
Philippians 2:13,”For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
Pay it forward is about changing lives. It is not about feeding your ego because you did something for someone. It’s not about doing good. It is about changing lives, taking small acts of kindness that don’t paint over the pain but change a person’s perspective of their life. It demonstrates to others that God does materially love them. That God is generous in ways that they never expected.
Most of us want to be the hero of our story. That is not what God intended. God is not only the hero of our story; He is the playwright, financial backer, and producer. Next time you want to pay it forward, ask yourself if you are changing a life or making yourself feel good about who you are.
Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”