Random acts of kindness

A man came in last night. He’s a frequent customer and we often talk a little bit. After he paid for his purchase another man came to the register. He told the second man, “Put your stuff on the counter and I’ll pay for it for you. I’m a ‘pay it forward kind of guy’. Just be sure to do this for someone else. And it doesn’t have to be involve money.”

That was a nice thing to do. That’s the pay it forward philosophy, which, seems to me, is a part of the random acts of kindness philosophy. Both are very nice. I have a friend who was out to eat with her family and, unbeknownst to them, an old family friend paid their check. Very nice. In what I’m about to say, I don’t mean to criticize or find fault with either one. What the man did last night was nice. What the family friend did was nice. But as followers of Jesus we need to beware of thinking it is Christian.

It is a nice philosophy but it’s not the Christian worldview. The Christian worldview is not random acts of kindness, but intentional acts of kindness. We are not to do our alms every once in a while, ie randomly, but as a part of our lifestyle. And in the Christian worldview, as Jesus said it, “Freely you have received, freely give.” Further, as James tells us, “God gives to all men liberally and upbraideth not.” So we don’t do a nice thing for somebody and then expect them to do the same for someone else because we just did a nice thing for them, ie pay it forward.

As believers we are to be full of good works, helping folks, giving to those in need. “Do good unto all men, especially to the household of faith.” It’s nice to occasionally pay for somebody’s coffee or meal, but Jesus teaches us to help the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the orphan, the widow, and to visit the sick and imprisoned.

I was serious when I said there was no criticism meant for those who do random acts of kindness, such as pay it forward. I’m not faulting anybody. I'm challenging myself to be intentional in my good works and alms. I give alms, that is, help folks financially, but I confess, it is most often “skimming off the top.” That is, I’m giving out of my abundance: If I have a little extra, sure I can help you out. And that is biblical: I have a little extra, you are a little short; I share with you from my extra and now there is an equality. But Paul called it a work of grace when the Corinthians gave out of their poverty - they really couldn’t afford to give, but donated anyway. That’s the grace and love of God.

I need to abound in that.

Oh the thoughts you think in the middle of the night!