Summer Allen: Better

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35

“Beyond making people feel rewarded and increasing their chance of landing a mate, generosity seems to provide many other positive benefits for the giver. Studies suggest that these benefits include better physical and psychological health…
When it comes to generosity and health, it really may be better to give than to receive. A study of patients with end-stage renal disease found that those who gave more social support—be it through social interaction, material aid, advising, or emotional support—to friends and family were significantly less likely to die over a 12-month period, whereas those who received social support were no more or less likely to die…

Another study looked at the effects of giving and receiving emotional support (such as making their spouse feel loved and cared for or listening to them when they needed to talk) and instrumental support (such as help with transportation, childcare, housework, etc.) on mortality among older married couples… After controlling for a number of variables, including the health of the participants, the researchers found that people who reported providing more emotional support to their spouse and/or instrumental support to friends, relatives, and neighbors had a significantly reduced death rate during the five-year study period, compared with those people who had reported offering less support.”

Summer Allen in “The Science of Generosity” White Paper produced by the Greater Good Science Center.

Following God’s design for living, giving, serving, and love is the better way to go. So cool that research affirms that benefits include locating a mate and living a longer and more rewarding life.

And while this represents secular research which cites dozens of sources, I found it ironic that that Summer Allen echoed Jesus (“better to give than to receive”) and yet did not cite the the biblical reference.

She would argue that generosity is the better way to go because of all the benefits it gives you. Paul would say to do it because it demonstrates actively remembering and following the instructions of Jesus.

How might you show generous emotional support to someone today? Follow God’s leading. Do it because it’s what our compassionate Lord Jesus would want you to do. It’s better. And the benefits will outweigh any expense or effort.

If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Matthew 18:6

“Studies of older children suggest how context and developmental stage influence this seemingly inherent drive to help others. Three-year-olds will mostly share their rewards from a collaborative task equally, even when they could have taken more for themselves, but share less equally when rewards came from a windfall or a task they completed on their own. For three-year-old children, previous sharing by a partner led to more sharing with that partner later, but for two year olds a partner’s previous sharing had no impact on their later sharing. Five year olds, but not three year olds, increased the amount they shared with someone who they thought might reciprocate their generosity. Collectively these studies suggest that even relatively early in human development, children’s generosity is influenced by contextual factors that become more nuanced as children get older.”

Summer Allen in “The Science of Generosity” White Paper produced by the Greater Good Science Center.

Jesus spoke pointedly about our influence on little ones. The research tells us why. Contextual factors can greatly influence the development of children, and this includes their generosity.

Our interaction with them can point them into the right direction or lead them astray.

If we say that America is following Europe and becoming post-Christian, might it be because we are not passing on our Christian values, including generosity to our children and grandchildren.

So, what we can do is not fret about it but form our children and grandchildren with intentional activities.

Try this. When our kids were little we put them to work. Make your bed. Put your toys away. And each week we gave them three dollars. A dollar to give, a dollar to save for larger or future purchases, and a dollar to spend.

We gave them jars. They made labels for them. Do this with your children and grandchildren.

It teaches them to give, save, and spend within their means. And the most important lesson is that it shows them how to make money their slave and not be a slave to money. And positions them to influence their peers.

I will share one other lesson learned related to fly fishing with my son.

When he was little, he was thrilled to catch a fish. He even loved putting them in a spot in the river where he could look at them after releasing it. Then as he got older, he started to want to compete with me, to catch more fish.

Rather than compete, we determined to take turns on great spots and count our total fish count.

I think the year he was about 13 years old, we set a goal of catching 500 fish that year and landed, 541. No kidding. We just went fishing again and landed 11 beautiful Greenback Cutthroat Trout in Herman Gulch in 2.5 hours on the water.

The best part of the outing was his generosity toward me.

He makes his way up the ice-cold stream faster than me, and what would he do. He would sight fish holding in difficult spots in the clear water and we would take turns catching them. It was technical and fun fly fishing.

This generous sharing of epic experience started when he was little. I did the same thing for him.

I was not as skilled as he has become, by far. By back in the day I tied on his flies and gave him most of the good runs and holes. Someday I will need him to do the same for me.

Not yet though. When the day comes I am sure he will help me. Enjoy the picture of one of the trout.

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

“18-month-old children who were mimicked in a friendly manner by an adult experimenter were significantly more likely to help either that experimenter or a different adult who needed help compared to children whose behavior was not copied. And another study found that 18-month-olds and 25-month-olds both offered more help toward an emotionless adult victim who had had her possessions taken away or destroyed compared to an actor who had not been harmed, suggesting that sympathy may help motivate prosocial behavior in even very young children.”

Summer Allen in “The Science of Generosity” White Paper produced by the Greater Good Science Center.

The research linked to toddlers interests me as we have a granddaughter.

But everyone out there reading this can help the next generation grow in generosity through mimicking in a friendly manner. And it seems they are never too young to start.

Think of the children in your life, in your neighborhood, in your church.

Consider creative ways to imitate generosity to them whether you are related to them or not. Your modeling will motivate their “prosocial” behavior and chart a course for generous living.

Failure to do so, according to the research will send them the opposite direction.

I want to wish a Happy Birthday to my sister back in Ohio. She’s two years older than me, so according to the research, her example helped me grow to be the person I today. Thanks Heather. Happy Birthday.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

“A study of 24-month-old children found that they will help an unfamiliar adult regardless of parental presence or encouragement, suggesting that the drive to help is intrinsically motivated. And a study of 18- and 30-month olds found that children of both ages voluntarily engaged in instrumental helping (such as helping an experimenter reach a clothespin that is out of reach), empathic helping (such as giving a cold experimenter a blanket or giving a sad experimenter a toy), and altruistic helping (such as handing over the child’s own blanket to a cold experimenter or the child’s favorite toy to a sad experimenter), although the 30-month-old children, who were better able to understand other people’s emotional cues, engaged in all forms of helping earlier and with less communication than did the 18-month-old children. This all serves as evidence of the deep proclivity in young children toward generosity.”

Summer Allen in “The Science of Generosity” White Paper produced by the Greater Good Science Center.

In recent days this research has revealed that generosity is innate or inborn. God made us to give and we need to do it for our survival. Then we learned that over time that tendency is moderated by our social environment.

Today interested me as I have an 18-months-old granddaughter. This study showed that at her age “the drive to help is intrinsically motivated.” That means God made her to offer instrumental, empathetic, or even altruistic help.

I praise God for this “deep proclivity” for generosity and hope my son and his wife can nurture it though societal factors will aim to moderate it or even shut it off altogether. But why study all this?

A friend said to me recently that he was really enjoying this modern research on generosity. I echoed that I marveled how it reinforced what we know in Scripture, that we are “fearfully and wonderfully” made.

God, show us how societal factors have moderated our giving of instrumental, empathetic, and/or altruistic help. Thanks for putting this drive to help in us. Empower us by your Spirit to live it out I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:15

“Research conducted over the past few decades provides strong evidence of intrinsic generous behaviors in children. This evidence suggests that generosity is deeply rooted in human psychology—that the instinct to help others is at least partially innate and not purely the product of social and cultural conditioning. Indeed, some research suggests that these instincts may be strongest when we are young and that they are actually moderated throughout childhood.”

Summer Allen in “The Science of Generosity” White Paper produced by the Greater Good Science Center.

Fascinating! Yesterday we saw the science teach us that God wired us to give and that giving is crucial to our survival.

Today we find that generosity is innate, that means it’s inborn, natural, what God made us to do, and the instincts “may be strongest when we are young and that they are actually moderated throughout childhood.” No wonder Jesus said we must receive the kingdom not just like a child but like a “little child.”

As we age, we see the brokenness of the world, and fears can limit our giving and sharing. The world around us moderates our thinking and our actions. But what if we try to remember what it is like to be a little child? Back in time we trusted our parents to supply everything.

We did not worry about anything. We did not even know what worry was! That’s how God wants us to trust Him.

Take a moment today to think or even journal along these lines. Ponder how social factors may have moderated your generosity. Resolve to return to your innate tendencies and trust God like a little child. Perhaps identify some challenge or issue or need about which you need to trust God?

So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27

“There is growing evidence that the human brain is wired for generosity. Several studies have found evidence that when people help others, their brains show activity in fundamental neural circuits such as those that underlie parental caregiving. Acting generously also appears to stimulate the neural circuits involved in reward, the same circuits that are activated when we eat food or have sex, which helps to explain why giving feels good. This neural response is also a sign that generosity is important for survival—when an act feels good, we’re more likely to do it again—and thus…the behaviors that are most fundamental to our survival also tend to make us feel good.”

Summer Allen in “The Science of Generosity” White Paper produced by the Greater Good Science Center.

Two phrases from today’s research struck me.

Firstly, the fact that studies show we were “wired for generosity” reveals the image of God in us. God is the first Giver and He made us to give. He wired us to give.

When Jenni and I bought our home, it was wired for the highest available internet speeds in Colorado. Pretty cool. But if we don’t use that wiring, it’s useless. God made each one of us to give but does not force us to do it, we need to do it. This reveals the link to the second idea.

Secondly, giving is necessary for our survival. Again, God does not force us to give, we need to do it for our own well being.

Each Tuesday Jenni spends the morning with our granddaughter. This gift of her time helps our son and daughter-in-law, but it also helps our granddaughter grow. Without giving within a family unit none of us would survive. The same is true in all of life. We need to give for our survival.

God wired us to give, it’s necessary for our survival, and it feels good. So, what are ways you can grow in giving to use that wiring, to thrive, and feel great in the process.

Name one thing and go do it today.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31

“People are much more likely to help an identified specific person rather than an abstract or anonymous individual, and they’re more likely to help individuals than groups.”

Summer Allen in “The Science of Generosity” White Paper produced by the Greater Good Science Center.

As I continue my modern research, this sentence in the opening part of Allen’s white paper struck me. It makes sense. People are more likely to aid a specific person. Then I thought about the implications of this.

No wonder Jesus said, “Love your neighbor,” and not “Love our neighborhood.” Had he said the latter, most of us would have given up before getting started. But we can picture our neighbor. It’s one person.

Ask God if there is a specific person in your life He wants you to help right now. Does a person come to mind? If so, query what that might look like. Or imagine connecting your church or ministry constituents with a specific person.

When we do this, we increase the likelihood of a response, and we just might help those we serve get on a path, a trajectory of living, giving, loving, and serving generously. Make it so, Lord Jesus.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

“Relatedness: Helping others may be most emotionally rewarding when it satisfies the fundamental need for social connection… Competence: Prosocial spending is most likely to satisfy the need for competence when people can see how their generous actions have made a difference… Autonomy: Because the need for autonomy is satisfied when people feel that their actions are freely chosen, the emotional benefits of prosocial spending should be greater when people have a choice about whether to give…

Taken together, this research suggests that the emotional benefits of prosocial spending are likely to be greatest when giving satisfies the needs for relatedness, competence, and autonomy.When prosocial spending fails to increase happiness – in everyday life or in a psychology experiment – consider whether the giving opportunity could be redesigned to increase the likelihood that one or more of these needs is satisfied. By doing so, charities can maximize the emotional benefits of giving for their donors, potentially increasing the likelihood of repeat donations; the happier people feel when reflecting on previous prosocial spending, the more likely they are to spend on others in the future.”

Elizabeth W., Dunn, Lara B. Aknin, and Michael I. Norton in “Prosocial Spending and Happiness: Using Money to Benefit Others Pays Off.” Current Directions in Psychological Science.

Today’s Scripture reminds me that God loves it when people cheerfully give and when God’s workers encourage autonomous, voluntary giving.

And the data affirms this. At least the point on autonomy. People don’t like to be manipulated into giving.

Also, the research suggests that God’s workers redesign communications as needed to be sure to encourage relatedness and to demonstrate competence.

Relatedness links to moving beyond inviting people to give, to inviting them to join you in God’s work.

And competence relates to demonstrating clearly that the engagement and projected actions will in fact make a difference and bring about transformation.

That said, each of us in Christian ministry who encourage need to take notes here.

Let us inspire voluntary participation in God’s work while demonstrating competence and specific impact. This will grow giving and in many cases, start people on a journey of generosity.

This follow’s Paul’s example. We can see givers learn that God is able to bless them as they grow in this grace.

John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” Luke 3:11

“Prosocial spending is most likely to satisfy the need for competence when people can see how their generous actions have made a difference. Thus, individuals may experience a bigger happiness boost from giving to charities that make it easy to see the positive impact of donations.

For example, both UNICEF and Spread the Net are deserving charities dedicated to improving children’s health in impoverished areas of the world, but Spread the Net offers a clear, concrete promise: For every $10 donated, the charity will provide a bed net to protect a child at risk of malaria. When participants were given the opportunity to donate money to Spread the Net, those who donated more money felt happier, controlling for their happiness before the donation.

In contrast, giving money to UNICEF provided no such benefit. People derive greater happiness from prosocial spending when they feel like effective, competent helpers whose actions have made a real difference.”

Elizabeth W., Dunn, Lara B. Aknin, and Michael I. Norton in “Prosocial Spending and Happiness: Using Money to Benefit Others Pays Off.” Current Directions in Psychological Science.

Our Scripture today provides a tangible example of giving. The one who has two shirts can envision the sharing of a shirt with someone who has none. The research shows that John the Baptist was on to something. This type of call to action engages a relatable response.

From the research, it makes sense that while both organizations in serve children in poor countries, UNICEF and Spread the Net, the impact of $10 to provide a mosquito net brings added benefit to the giver. They gain satisfaction seeing what their gift accomplished.

How can we do that at our churches and ministries? We must think of tangible ways to show people things they can give or the impact they can have with specific gifts. I think this helps get people who may not be giving to start to develop a habit or pattern of giving.

For example, right now, I am praying for God’s provision of $19,100 for Palmful of Maize. But if I stop there you are not inspired. But what if I tell you that that will spread the generosity training to the last 5 districts in Malawi at a cost of $3,820 per district. It still looks too big for some.

Imagine that $3,820 sends a team of 5 people to a remote district of Malawi and about $820 covers the cost of their travel, meals, and lodging for a week. The other $3,000 covers the cost of bringing together, all of tribal and community officials, pastors, and Sunday school teachers over three days.

We reimburse their bus fares and feed them. This gets them to come from the corners of each district. In each district, we engage about 42 churches and nearly 1,000 children directly. So at GTP, for about $3, the price of a coffee, you can train a child to “give God what you have.” That’s tangible.

It’s growing giving and growing the church in Malawi as children engage their friends. Check out the video here to see the impact. Give $3, $3,820, or $19,100 toward the Palmful of Maize effort here. Or pray with me for these funds to deploy the team now as it’s harvest season.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:28

“Our initial research on prosocial spending and happiness was conducted in North America, where people enjoy a level of wealth that is highly atypical compared to living
conditions experienced throughout human history and much of the world today. As a result, the emotional benefits of giving might be dampened or eliminated in countries where many people are still struggling to meet their own basic needs.

If, however, people derive emotional benefits from prosocial spending even in poorer countries, then this would provide evidence that the warm glow of giving may be a fundamental component of human nature. Aknin et al examined the correlation between charitable giving and happiness in 136 countries.

In 120 out of 136 countries, there was a positive relationship between giving and happiness (controlling for income and other demographic variables), and this relationship was significant in a majority of countries. Although the strength of the relationship varied between countries, individuals in poor and rich countries alike reported greater happiness if they engaged in prosocial spending.”

Elizabeth W., Dunn, Lara B. Aknin, and Michael I. Norton in “Prosocial Spending and Happiness: Using Money to Benefit Others Pays Off.” Current Directions in Psychological Science.

As I continue my modern research on giving, today we go global to see if prosocial spending, that is, stewarding resources to the core needs of others, brings greater happiness than spending on ourselves.

With this demonstrated in 120 of 136 countries, we find that “the warm glow of giving may be a fundamental component of human nature.” Back to the Garden of Eden, we see that God made us “to be fruitful, to multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it.”

How might this modern finding relate to this ancient verse?

From the beginning of humanity, God made the first humans and gave them a charge to contribute to the good of more humans while stewarding the resources of the earth. We find this to be our core calling and reason for existence.

That means you and I are on the earth to work and contribute to the good of others through our stewardship of creation. This brings faithful stewardship, abundant generosity, and creation care all into view.

And to bring it back to today, this encourages my work with GTP. Our 10 staff, 12 board members, 12 regional facilitators, 30 country coordinators, and network of 6,250 stewards are making progress in collaborating around the world to empower national workers to build trust and grow local giving in 123 countries and counting because God made us to give.

I want to try to dig deeper to see what’s going on in the 16 countries where giving for the good of others brought less happiness.

Why? I want the whole world to know the joy of generosity. Include GTP in your monthly giving to help in this huge task. Set it up here.