“Buy Happiness By Giving Your Money Away” was the headline of a recent Wall Street Journal article by reporter Dalvin Brown.
Among the various benefits the WSJ offered this insight.
“Generosity is a powerful drug even in small doses. Donations to a worthy cause or acts of kindness to friends give your mind and body a boost. Yes, the side effects of a charitable act may include a better mood, lower blood pressure and a longer life, according to studies from brain scientists and economists.”
In a similar article by NBC News online, Jeanna Bryner, referenced a study in the March 21st issue of the journal Science.
“We wanted to test our theory that how people spend their money is at least as important as how much money they earn,” said Elizabeth Dunn, a psychologist at the University of British Columbia.
Regardless of how much income each person made,” Dunn said, “those who spent money on others reported greater happiness, while those who spent more on themselves did not.”
It doesn’t surprise me at all that people find giving money away very rewarding,” said Aaron Ahuvia, associate professor of marketing at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, who was not involved in the current study.
No doubt these studies are accurate. There is a greater happiness gained from giving rather than getting. But, there is something that’s even a greater benefit than happiness. It’s blessedness. Jesus pronounced, ”It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
In Mark Roberts recently released book, “The Sermon On The Mount For Everyone,” he reminds us that “blessed” means more than happiness, it means “approved of God.” The blessed giver enjoys God’s favor. As Mark writes, “{Blessedness} is a description and a commendation of the life God approves of.” And God approves and blesses givers.
Some Bible commentators have called Jesus’ commendation of the blessed giver “the ninth beatitude.” Earl V. Pierce wrote a book on stewardship based on Jesus’ statement entitled “The Supreme Beatitude,” because, unlike those in Matthew 5, Pierce opines that it tells us how “to be more blessed!”
Giving has Divine implications. God is the ultimate Giver of good gifts (Jas. 1:17), and He desires that we, too, be givers. Those who enjoy financial prosperity are commanded to “be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share” (1 Tim. 6:18).
There are many opportunities to give, but tomorrow provides a unique opportunity. Tomorrow is “Giving Tuesday.”
Giving Tuesday is touted as a national day of giving. According to their website, #GivingTueday was founded by a group of business, professional and philanthropic leaders in 2012, and “has become a movement that celebrates and supports giving and philanthropy with events throughout the year and a growing catalog of resources.” Among other well known national leaders, it is supported by Bill and Melinda Gates.
The Giving Tuesday web page offers this challenge. “Let’s transform the world through radical generosity.” Think about that. “Radical generosity.” That thought suggests going above and beyond. Being progressive. Becoming a liberal giver.
Giving, of course, can take different forms. Some give by volunteering their time to serve their communities. Others possess a special skill set that can benefit non-profit organizations. And, of course, some have discretionary funds to make monetary donations to causes they wish to support. The Giving Tuesday web page offers many suggestions for such giving.
Norma Jean and I like to use this opportunity to make some additional contributions to some organizations we support, including a special, private, faith-based college, a foundation, and a medical research organization.
Giving is a very personal matter. With varying resources at different times and differing priorities, our choices will be diversified. But most of us have an opportunity to do something.
The Bible encourages Christians with these words. “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Gal. 6:10).
The NLT renders Proverbs 11:25 this way. “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” Or as The Message says, “The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed.”
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
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