Pay It Upward!

Proverbs 19:17

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) sent the following letter to Benjamin Webb:

April 22, 1784

Dear Sir,

I received yours of the 15th instant, and the memorial it enclosed. The account they give of your situation grieves me I send you herewith a Bill for ten louis d'ors. I do not pretend to give such a sum; I only lend it to you. When you shall return to your country with a good character, you cannot fail of getting into some business, that will in time enable you to pay all your debts. In that case, when you meet with another honest man in similar distress, you must pay me by lending this sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with another opportunity. I hope it may thus go through many hands, before it meets with a knave that will stop its progress. This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money. I am not rich enough to afford much in good works, and so am obliged to be cunning and make the most of a little. With best wishes for the success of your memorial, and your future prosperity, I am, dear Sir, your most obedient servant,

B. Franklin

Maybe you have heard the phrase "pay it forward." The expression "pay it forward" has come to describe the concept of asking that a person repay a good turn by having it done to others instead of "paid back." When someone does something good for you, in turn you do something good for someone else -- not a bad way to generate a conspiracy of kindness. I understand that some plan to designate Thursday, April 29, 2010, as "Pay It Forward Day."

The believer in the Lord Jesus Christ has an even greater opportunity to "pay it upward." The Bible reminds us, "He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given" (Prov. 19:17).

Dr. George Lawson (1749-1820), professor of theology, explained, "No pagan moralist could ever produce a motive for any social duty equal to this. It is sufficient to open the closest fist, and to enlarge the most selfish heart. Can we lose anything by lending it to the Lord? God will be sure to repay what is given to the poor at His command with great increase. The greatest usurer on earth cannot make so much on his money as the man that gives to the poor." Our passage reveals three aspects of the concept we call "pay it upward."

I. The practice of giving to the poor.

"He who has pity on the poor. . ." (Prov. 19:17a)

Dr. William Paley (1743-1805) defines a poor man as he, of whatever rank, whose expenses exceed his resources. Dr. D. Thomas explains, "It is very clear from this that there may be poverty which has no claim to our commiseration and charity."