Pay It Forward

We all know of the phrase "pay it forward", where someone is on the receiving end of an act of kindness, and it is then their responsibility to do an act of kindness for someone else. We see a biblical picture of the "pay it forward" idea put into practice in the life of King David.

In 2 Samuel 7:18, we see David offering a prayer of thanks to God form taking him from a lowly shepherd boy to the King of Israel. "Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?" His prayer goes on throughout the rest of chapter 7, and we get a glimpse of the unworthiness and thankfulness he feels in the face of God's extravagant grace that he is experiencing.

In chapter 9, one of the first acts David does as king is to fulfill his vow to his friend Jonathan by showing kindness to family. He finds out that one of Jonathan's sons, Mephibosheth, is still alive, although he is crippled in both feet due to an accident detailed in 4:4. David sends for Mephibosheth to come visit him. To be sure, Mephibosheth had to be uneasy about David's intentions for the visit since he could be considered a threat to David's throne as a grandson to the former King Saul.

Instead, David quickly dispels any fears that Mephibosheth may have. "Don't be afraid! I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king's table!" (9:7) David takes the grace and goodness that God showed him, and shows that same grace and goodness to Mephibosheth. In short, he pays it forward.

What also strikes me is the similarity in the response of David to God showing him grace (7:18, see above), and Mephibosheth's response to David showing grace to him. "Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?" (9:8) Both knew that they had not done anything to deserve the grace that was shown to them, yet both of them received it with humility and thanksgiving. "And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, lived in Jerusalem and ate regularly at the king's table." (9:13)

We have been shown God's grace in His Son, Jesus Christ. "Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege (or grace) where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory." (Romans 5:2) But, as we learn from David's example, this grace is not for us to keep to ourselves. We must share it with others. We must pay it forward.