In 2000, Warner Brothers released a movie that challenged and encouraged humanity to think of the needs of others. Trevor McKnight, the main character in Pay it Forward, believed one idea could change the world. He believed in the goodness of human nature and put actions to his beliefs. Because of a social studies assignment, he determined to do a good deed for three people who in turn must “pay it forward” by doing a good deed for three people who must in turn each do good deeds for three other people.
Where does goodness come from? Because my worldview is firmly planted on the teachings from the Bible, I can only offer one answer. Goodness comes from God because God is good.
Why does society wait until November and December to begin volunteering at charitable organizations or put extra change in the red bucket with the ringing bell? It is not because there is a little bit of God in all of us. Humankind was created in the image of God, therefore we may have similar desires as God, i.e. doing good. However, it is important to recognize that humanitarian efforts do no eternal good if the “do-er” does not know Jesus Christ as their savior.
Savior from what? Man is separated from God because of sin. Plain and simple. True and truth. Only when one believes and acts on these truths is God in us and we can do good that will last.
Paying it forward is a wonderful concept and no doubt the recipient will be grateful. Jesus paid it forward 2000 years ago. You, the recipient need do nothing except receive the gift of Salvation.
You can find more intriguing writings like this at http://www.keytofreedom.org/faq.html
I believe the reason we are more open to giving the last 2 months of the year as opposed to the other 10 is because it's a time of the year when the "World" (as we know it today) offers a little grace ~ (which does come from the Goodness within, and as you mentioned comes from the God with in us)
But what if you don't believe in God or the Bible? Perhaps you weren't raise with anything to believe in or you were but have decided to take a break from the faith of your youth and give the worldview a try. That question alone can fill pages and pages...
and without stereo typing everyone to fit in their box with a label such as agnostic, atheist, unbeliever or Christian I suppose the bigger question would be what are you really made of? Inside? What in life makes you burn with passion?
Like Jesus, the little boy in the movie burned with a desire to make life better for someone else and in the end, like Jesus, died making it happen...
I think older people these days, like myself , hold on to the goodness of days gone by; and with every smile, every hello and basic human common courtesy - "Pay it Forward" in the little things that truly meet the human need - HOPE, LOVE, JOY and PEACE...
Merry Christmas
Posted by: His Girl | December 19, 2007 at 04:11 PM