There’s a famous saying, “Money can’t buy happiness.” There are many studies that show that having and spending lots of money does not increase happiness. Michael Norton, Professor of Business Administration at Harvard University, disagrees with that statement, with a caveat. He says that money can buy happiness IF you spend it right.
How do you spend it right? By spending it on others. He did experiments a few years back in which he gave small amounts of money to different groups of people. Some were instructed to spend it on themselves and the rest were told they had to spend the money on someone else. Regardless of whom they spent the money on or the amount of money they spent, all who used the money for someone else reported higher levels of happiness at the end of the experiment.
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I love it when scientists, or social scientists in this case, prove the Word of God. In Acts 20:35, Paul told the Ephesians, “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
“It is more blessed to give than to receive” is really another way of saying that you can achieve happiness by sharing your money with others. And, of course, giving doesn’t only involve money. You can be blessed by sharing your time, talents, and attention with others. Not all of us have the financial resources to give away large amounts of money. But we all have something we can give. And, as this study affirmed, even giving small amounts of money can bless someone and increase your level of happiness.
Further more, generosity brings blessings. Proverbs 22:9 tells us “Whoever has a generous eye will be blessed,” and Proverbs 28:27 says, “He who gives to the poor will not lack.”
I would encourage you to look for opportunities each day to bless someone else with your money, time, or talent. In this way, you will ensure that your days are blessed and filled with happiness.
Susan's Reflections 