When Was the Last Time You Paid A Kindness Forward?

I love the commercials on television that show someone watching another person doing something kind for someone else, such as holding an elevator door open, or letting another person take the taxi instead of taking it himself, or helping a new mother carry her packages while she cares for her baby, etc.  And then the person watching goes and pays a kindness for someone else, which gets watched by another person, etc., etc.  And all throughout the commercial others are doing kind deeds for someone they may not even know.  It always brings a smile to their faces.    Or the commercial that shows teenagers at a homecoming dance who have voted their special needs friend as homecoming queen.

My Fair Lady commented on her Facebook page the other day that she wondered what this world would look like if Christians were as excited about Jesus Christ as we are about our football teams (enter any other favorite sports team or hobby here).  Personally, I believe that the world would break out in a Great Awakening Revival.  If Christians were excited about Jesus and what He has done in their lives, they would want to share it with everyone they know.  This activity would be just as contagious as paying a kind deed forward.   

My Fair Lady and I went to an Operation Christmas Child Processing Center this last week to process shoe boxes that had been filled by others all around the southeast with all sorts of toys, clothing, school supplies and hygiene items.  What we were doing was preparing the boxes to be shipped overseas to children in third world countries as gifts for Christmas.  Samaritan's Purse is the organization that organizes events with missionaries to ensure that children in their area of the world hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We have gone to the OCC Processing Center as a family since Little Bit turned into a teenager, but we have filled our own shoe boxes since they were toddlers.  (Little Bit and Knight in Shining Armor stayed home this year due to work and sickness.)

Then just this morning, Knight in Shining Armor, Little Bit and I went to our community's "soup kitchen" to prepare meals to be delivered to individuals and families who are less fortunate than we are.  We deliver the meals because in a rural community such as ours it would be a hardship on those in need to actually come to the soup kitchen to eat their meals.  

I'm not telling you this, O Christian, to say, "Look at us:  See how good we are!" or to get an earthly pat on the back.  No, I am telling you this to encourage you to be purposeful about looking to see where God is working in your communities, in your lives and in the lives of others, and get on board and go to work for Him!  You will receive blessings beyond your wildest imaginations.  But don't do it because of what you may receive, but because your Heavenly Father requests your presence in doing the work of the Kingdom so that His Kingdom will grow, and His glory will be witnessed by others, perhaps enticing them to come to know Him as their own personal Savior.  In doing so, you will store for yourself treasures in Heaven, as the Word of God commands us to do in Matthew 6:19-21.

So, my question remains:  when was the last time you paid a kindness forward; or even just showed kindness to another just because it was the right thing to do?  It only takes a moment to share a smile and a kind word with someone.  Ask your waitress if there is anything you can pray for her as you bless your meal.  Say thank you to a first responder or military personnel that comes into your path - even go out of your way to say thank you.  Tell them that you are praying for them and their families, and that you appreciate their sacrifices in order to keep you and your family safe and free.   You never know where a person may be spiritually or emotionally.  You never know when you will be the answer to their prayers that God would just let them know that He is there and He sees all that they do.

The Bible says in Matthew 25:34-40, 

"Then the King will say to those on His right,

'Come, you who are blessed by my Father;

take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared 

for you since the creation of the world.

For I was hungry and you gave me 

something to eat,

I was thirsty and you gave me 

something to drink,

I was a stranger and you invited me in.

I needed clothes and you clothed me,

I was sick and you looked after me,

I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, 

when did we see you hungry and feed you,

or thirsty and give you something to drink?

When did we see you a stranger and invite you in,

or needing clothes and clothe you? 

When did we see you sick or in prison 

and go to visit you?'

The King will reply, 'Truly, I tell you, 

whatever you did 

for one of these brothers 

and sisters of mine,

you did for me.'"