Scientific Evidence that Giving Makes You Happy

Andy Stanley, of North Point Ministries in metro Atlanta has made a significant contribution to the conversation about creating a culture of generosity in the church. Recently, at the Generous Church Summit, hosted by Leadership Network and the National Christian Foundation, Andy encouraged the 200 pastors who attended to teach generosity not because of “what they want from their people, but because of what they want for them”.

Now scientists agree with Andy. While studies have shown that having more money can increase happiness, in a study published Friday in the journal Science, researchers from the University of British Columbia and Harvard University set out to discover if the way people spend their money affects their happiness. Their conclusion; it does.

You can read more about the study in the Forbes Magazine article, How to Buy Happiness, at http://www.forbes.com/home/technology/2008/03/20/money-buys-love-tech-science-cx_ec_0320love.html

Christopher Willard leads the Generous Churches Leadership Community for Leadership Network.