There has been a popular idea floating around over the years known as “pay it forward.” This concept, also known as serial reciprocity, revolves around the person who aided or assisted someone requesting that they not be reimbursed, but instead, that the person who received aid promises to do the same for someone else in the future.
The specific phrase itself may have originated with Lily Hardy Hammond in her 1916 book In the Garden of Delight when one character is speaking of the devotion of parents to their children and says, “You don’t pay love back, you pay it forward” (Hammond 209). However, the notion itself is much older
The Biblical Concept
Looking to the Bible, the kind of ripple effect intended by paying it forward is used by Jesus in the parable of the Unjust Servant. Here, one servant is completely forgiven of a lifetime-sized debt. That same servant goes out and finds another man who owes him a minuscule amount, and instead of “paying it forward” by showing the same forgiveness he was given, the first servant has the poor soul thrown in prison until the debt is paid. Jesus ends this lesson with the statement, “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart” (Matt 18:21–35 NASB).
A like example can be found in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. The manner in which he presents this concept as a Christian is essentially to “suffer it forward.” Paul is writing this letter during his imprisonment, “in the cause of Christ,” in Rome around AD 60-62 (Phil 1:13). He explains that, as the word began to circulate that he was in prison but still blessed by God and continuing to be active in his ministry, it began fostering a greater trust in the Lord from the brethren and emboldened them “to speak the Word of God without fear” (14).
To Be Expected
It was never offered as a secret that Christians would suffer in this life, but as something to be expected: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you…as though some strange thing were happening to you” (1 Pet 4:12), “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim 3:12), “You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved” (Matt 10:22). However, it is explained that suffering for the cause of Christ would not take place as a punishment for obeying God, but as an honor reserved for those who defended the name of God their Father, an opportunity granted to the Christian by God “for Christ’s sake” (Phil 1:29).
God gave the ultimate gift in the suffering and sacrifice of His Son so that mankind could find redemption (Rom 5:8; John 3:16). While Jesus was here on this earth, He suffered. He was mocked, spat upon, beaten, betrayed, and crucified (Isa 53:4; 1 Pet 2:24); He was put through it all as a propitiation for the sins of all men (1 John 2:2).
Since He came and was willingly made a sacrifice (Heb 10:12), the charge is placed on all of God’s children to suffer it forward as an example of Jesus to the world. It is granted to Christians to believe (Phil 1:29) to establish faith in God and hope of “the power of the resurrection.” It is granted to suffer (29) so that, through being moved to “obedience of faith” (Rom 1:5), one can be conformed to the sacrifice and death of the Savior so they “may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Phil 3:11).
Strive To Encourage
Paul willingly took on repeated opportunities to suffer for Christ’s sake, and this instance in the opening of the Philippian Letter is no different. Instead of retreating inward and feeling sorrow for his imprisonment, he rejoiced that, in his choice to suffer it forward, “most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear” (Phil 1:14).
May all of those who have taken on Christ have the same attitude that “Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice” (Phil 1:18) and always strive to suffer it forward!
