“Giving Is the Best Communication” is a heart-warming video on flixxy that has gone viral. It's the story of a small restaurant owner in Thailand who comes to the aid of a young boy caught stealing painkillers from an alleyway pharmacy. The boy is stealing them for his mother and the restaurant owner pays for the painkillers and also gives the boy some vegetable soup.
Years later the restaurant owner, who is still giving handouts to the needy, collapses and is hospitalized. His daughter is faced with an enormous medical bill and in despair puts his restaurant up for sale. But then she receives a second medical bill that states, “All medical expenses paid 30 years ago with 3 packages of painkillers and some vegetable soup.” The doctor providing for the man’s medical care was that little boy that he helped so long ago, and the doctor has cleared the bill. (You can view the video at: http://www.flixxy.com/giving-is-the-best-communication.htm)
The video has the reassuring message that a person's acts of generosity will return to bless him, but you may question does that happen in real life or just in heart-warming stories?
Last month in late October a phenomenon began breaking out across the United States called the “drive-thru pay it forward” response. In a number of states at various fast food drive-thru's, people began paying for the order of the car behind them. These are not isolated incidences but chains of “pay it forward” actions sometimes 50 to70 cars long. And it seems to be catching on as the incidence of “pay it forward chains” is growing in frequency.
What might be causing this behavior? One participating driver stated: “It's such a nice thing to have happen to you. It makes you want to do it to someone else.” Another commented: “It's fun! It's a nice way to make a positive impression on another person’s life.”
You see, whether we realize it or not, giving is actually contagious. Jesus declared that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). He wasn't saying that it's blessed to give because you will get something in return. He was stating a far deeper principle that it's actually more personally fulfilling to give than it is to receive.
Endless generosity characterizes the heart of Father God. He is the giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). Since He didn't spare even his own son Jesus Christ, but gave him as a sacrifice to set us free from sin, we are assured that Father God will also freely give us all other things (Romans 8:32).
Since we were originally created in Father God's image, like Him our hearts are the most fulfilled when we experience the blessing generosity brings through our acts of giving to others. In giving, we become conduits of God's love to others, and they respond positively to that love. Experience for yourself how giving is contagious. Let your generosity flow to others, and watch how your giving encourages them to do likewise!
Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM or 2 PM when we will continue our current series “The Keys to Prosperity.” My message this week is “The Grace of Giving.”
Pastor Che
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