“Generous people, we show, tend to be happier and more fulfilled than their ungenerous counterparts. This is true in spite of the fact that many generous people we interviewed face similar life problems and setbacks, often similar to those experienced by the less generous. Practicing generosity does not guarantee a life free of troubles or crises…Generosity does not protect people from misfortune. Instead of keeping all of their resources to protect their own families and lifestyles, generous people give away some for the well-being of others. Rather than using all they have to build a bigger nest or finance a more secure lifestyle, they help to build others up and protect those who are more vulnerable…
They are noticeably happier–even though they do not have the perfect families, dream homes, or jobs, let alone the full bank accounts that their less generous counterparts point to as the alleged key to happiness…But the generous possess an insight usually missing among the less generous. They know that they already have enough, and that clinging to what they have or clamoring for more will not bring about greater happiness. So they share some of their time, money, and care with others. They tend to see the beauty of life, the value of solidarity, and their connection to humanity. Their perspective tells them that the world, properly viewed, is a place of abundance.”
Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson in The Paradox of Generosity: Giving We Receive, Grasping We Lose (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014) 222-223.
This recent research by Smith and Davidson affirms the paradox of generosity in a world of abundance. The more we give, the more we receive. The more we bless, the more we are blessed. The data demonstrates that things like happiness, health, satisfaction are not found the abundance of possessions but in celebrating God’s abundance through enjoyment and sharing.
Ironically this research also reveals that for “generosity to enhance one’s well-being, it must be practiced. Single, random, irregular acts of generosity may be good to perform and may be beneficial for everyone involved. But to have the kind of clear, significant effects on well-being…generosity needs to become a practice, a routine, a regular part of life” (96).
So why share this as a meditation today? During holiday seasons we often have margin to talk with family members over meals, games, or other activities. In those settings we can talk about how we are bombarded by messages linked to scarcity and consumerism, which call us to hoard and overspend on needless things. When we share examples with each other, some of them sound good on the surface, while others are laughable.
These conversations are sacred moments when we can reflect on what is true. “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Some, like Thomas want proof that this is true. Smith and Davidson offer just that. “One of the goals in our conducting this research…has been to foster precisely these kinds of conversations and to explore the potential life changes they might produce” (227).
Resolve to talk about this with someone this Christmas season. Say: “I am learning that when I choose abundance over scarcity, contentment over consumerism, and sharing over hoarding, I get a glimpse of life as God intends it. When I live this way over time, I feel I take hold of the life that is really life” (1 Timothy 6:17-19). Then ask them what they are learning. In turn, listen and love generously.