In October of 2000, a movie starring Helen Hunt, Haley Joel Osment, and Kevin Spacey came out that coined a phrase and started an international movement that stays with us today.
Pay it forward.
Tasked with a social studies assignment to think of something to change the world and then put it into action, seventh-grader Trevor McKinney comes up with the idea that instead of doing a favor for someone who has done you a favor, pay the favor forward. So he decides to do three good deeds and asks those individuals to “pay it forward.” The story is much more complicated and convoluted (of course), but the message is clear—even the smallest act of kindness can have a huge impact on people.
This movie came immediately to mind when I was reading Psalm 78. Here are verses 2-8 of the psalm (emphasis mine).
2 I will open my mouth with a parable;
I will utter hidden things, things from of old--
3 things we have heard and known,
things our ancestors have told us.
4We will not hide them from their descendants;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
his power, and the wonders he has done.
5 He decreed statutes for Jacob
and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our ancestors
to teach their children,
6 so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children.
7 Then they would put their trust in God
and would not forget his deeds
but would keep his commands.
8 They would not be like their ancestors--
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
whose hearts were not loyal to God,
whose spirits were not faithful to him.
Psalm 78 is all about Paying It Forward—spiritually. Yes, it is important to do good deeds, to show the love of God in practical ways, but it is eternally important that the people now and in the generations to come know of the faithfulness of God. Know of the things He has done, and the things He is doing. Know of His sacrifice of His only son in order to restore an eternal relationship with us so that generations to come can make a personal decision to claim Him and submit to Him as their Lord.
May we never forget to Pay It Forward.
Pay it forward.
Tasked with a social studies assignment to think of something to change the world and then put it into action, seventh-grader Trevor McKinney comes up with the idea that instead of doing a favor for someone who has done you a favor, pay the favor forward. So he decides to do three good deeds and asks those individuals to “pay it forward.” The story is much more complicated and convoluted (of course), but the message is clear—even the smallest act of kindness can have a huge impact on people.
This movie came immediately to mind when I was reading Psalm 78. Here are verses 2-8 of the psalm (emphasis mine).
2 I will open my mouth with a parable;
I will utter hidden things, things from of old--
3 things we have heard and known,
things our ancestors have told us.
4We will not hide them from their descendants;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
his power, and the wonders he has done.
5 He decreed statutes for Jacob
and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our ancestors
to teach their children,
6 so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children.
7 Then they would put their trust in God
and would not forget his deeds
but would keep his commands.
8 They would not be like their ancestors--
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
whose hearts were not loyal to God,
whose spirits were not faithful to him.
Psalm 78 is all about Paying It Forward—spiritually. Yes, it is important to do good deeds, to show the love of God in practical ways, but it is eternally important that the people now and in the generations to come know of the faithfulness of God. Know of the things He has done, and the things He is doing. Know of His sacrifice of His only son in order to restore an eternal relationship with us so that generations to come can make a personal decision to claim Him and submit to Him as their Lord.
May we never forget to Pay It Forward.
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