Is "Paying it Forward" Enough?

 “Paying It Forward” has become a popular practice in recent years. Did you know that November 13, 2013 has been named World Kindness Day? There is even a Random Acts of Kindness week set for February 10 – 16, 2014.  

If you have been reading my blog recently, you know that we are looking at the life of Christ.  We have considered how to be like him in our Attitudes and now we are looking at how to be like him in our Actions.  I found the following poem with this thought in mind.

                    From the example of Jesus,
                   Who went about doing good,
                     We are to honor our Savior
                   By helping wherever He would. —Hess

Not long ago I met a wonderful gentleman who was doing a couple of odd jobs for my mom.  I was told later that this man is generous to many people, spending much of his free time helping others. He is reluctant to take payment because this dear man believes that if he does enough for others, and is a good person, he will earn his way into heaven. Friends have tried to explain to him that his generous acts of kindness do not determine his worthiness for heaven. 
The only thing that qualifies anyone to enter into the eternal presence
of God the Father is their relationship with the Son, Jesus Christ. This dear
man chooses to believe it is his actions that qualify him to live with God for
ever in heaven. However, Isaiah explains very clearly that:

“We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.”    Isaiah 46:6 (ESV)

Our good works do not determine our eternal destiny. Our good works are to be the outcome of a changed life through Jesus Christ. Doing good, even being good is not enough. Our eternal home depends upon our acceptance of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross.

“He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit”   Titus 3:5 (ESV) 

Lord, help me to recognize where you want me to help to make someone else’s life easier.  Help me to see what you would do. I want to do these acts of kindness because of my love for you, not because they will help me to “make it to heaven.” Thank you for providing a way for me to be a child of God that has nothing to do with what I “do”, because I could never “do” enough to be worthy of your forgiveness.

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