Benefits of charity

In case you wondered, here's an article I saw in our local paper today: "Science and Bible agree on benefits of charity"

It starts out:

People who made gifts to others or to charities reported they were happier than folks who didn't share, according to a report in Friday's issue of the journal Science.
While previous studies have shown that having more money can increase happiness, the researchers at the University of British Columbia and Harvard University wondered if the way people spent their money made any difference.
Turns out, it does.

Researchers found that how people spend their time and money and how they shared their skills has a major effect on happiness. The more they gave, the happier they are.

Certainly not news to many, not even to the researchers on this project. And certainly we've all had good advice on this subject. Here are some ideas on the blessings of giving...

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." (Luke 6:38)

"Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it." (Prov 3:27)

"Giving does not impoverish us in the service of our Maker, neither does withholding enrich us. (Science and Health 79:31-32)

"We should measure our love for God by our love for man; and our sense of Science will be measured by our obedience to God, — fulfilling the law of Love, doing good to all; imparting, so far as we reflect them, Truth, Life, and Love to all within the radius of our atmosphere of thought." (Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896 by Mary Baker Eddy 12:28)

And this concept certainly must be behind Oprah's "Big Give"! I'm sure I'd agree, any day that I feel that I've really done something for another, really helped in some way, and especially in a God-directed way, is a much brighter and happier day for me.