In 2017, a team of scientists working at the University of Zurich’s Neuroscience Centre doled out 25 Swiss francs to 50 test subjects over four weeks. Half were told to spend the money on themselves; the other half were told to buy things for other people. At the end of the four weeks, the happiness of participants in both groups was measured using a standard test. Participants in the second group reported a greater increase in happiness than those in the first.

I always find it both fascinating and, in a way, delightful when science seems to support the truths that have been given to humanity through faith. Something like that seems to be going on here—“It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35)—even though admittedly the worldly and clinical happiness that these scientists are attempting to measure seems far from the eternal blessedness the author of Acts had in mind. But science now seems to be discovering what religion has long taught—that giving is good for us.

I’m........

© Anglican Journal