We’ve heard it from the time we were young, “Money doesn’t buy happiness.” I think we all believe this on an intellectual level, but it’s more difficult to accept emotionally.

We look at the world around us and see things we desire, but can’t afford. We work and labor to obtain these things and generally experience a brief time of euphoria, then fix our sites on a new object of desire. Why? Because those material things we acquire don’t give anything back. So, the money we’ve worked so hard for to buy those things we’ve desired so greatly hasn’t made us any happier. Yet, we continue to strive after the wind. I recently referenced a study by the Charities Aid Foundation (http://bit.ly/q4QGme). This study found an interesting link between charitable people and wealth. The wealthiest people didn’t give the most, the happiest people did. It didn’t matter that they had less to give, they gave more.

It’s really not that surprising, because what brings true joy in life? Doing for others. Serving those in need. What truly makes us rich is our humanity. Caring for the people created in God’s own image. This goes to prove another saying, “The rich get richer.” Absolutely, because the more you give, the wealthier you become. It’s a continuous cycle, what I like the call the compassion cycle; being happy leads to benevolence which brings joy and glory to God which results in more giving and more glory to God. What a cycle to start!

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