Pay It Forward - The Good Pleasure of His Good Will

Recently I saw an article on the "Law of Giving and Receiving". It was a type of 'new age' article that, as I thought over what it was saying, I related it to some religious groups who teach the same things. There is a whole lot more to 'giving' and 'receiving' than a law formula.  Giving is so much more than 'give and get'. Giving is not a legal prerequisite, but is a result of the heart:

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. II Corinthians 9:7

What makes a 'cheerful' giver?  The word 'cheerful' in the greek text is the word 'hilarios' from which we get the word 'hilarious'.  It's meaning indicates a response as being 'already inclined to do something' as a non-reluctant giver. Giving is an effusion of the heart. God loves a cheerful giver!

 We don't have to codify giving to make sure we are living up to our Christian beliefs. We give because we want to and we aren't looking for pats on the back. I enjoy seeing the 'pay it forward' ads on TV.  Spontaneous reactions of kindness do much more than we will ever know and that is spectacular!

Perhaps the greatest joys of giving are the freedom of choice and freedom from fear that result.  When it says "every man according as he purposeth in his heart' means to bring forward what is stored in your heart. When God is at the center of our giving there is nothing to fear. When God is at the center of our decisions we are wise.

13 For it is God which worketh (energizes) in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:1 

Sometimes the 'energizings' are little nudges and sometimes they are major nudges. A little nudge can make a huge difference, sometimes more than a giant nudge. That is God's prerogative. Our choice is to listen and act on it. Sometimes life gets so busy we don't listen well especially at this time of the year ironically 'the season of giving'.  When we get busy, we either neglect or go overboard on things rather than just allowing God to work. This is true in so many categories of life: marriage, relationships, work, parenting, learning and loving in general.

God has provided a way to 'pay it forward':

13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.