More Joy!

I was blessed throughout my childhood to be shown the power that giving has to change my life. Going door to door to collect money for UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund), putting on a haunted house to raise money for charity, inviting friends to give gifts to causes rather than the birthday child – very early in my life, wise people taught me the truth of Jesus’ teaching: “There is more joy in giving than receiving.” (Acts 20:35)

I didn’t know it then, but others were simply teaching me that generosity is a way of life in which we just give good things to others freely and abundantly. You can be generous with your time, your attention, your aid, your emotions, your possessions, your money. Whatever goodness it is that you share, the science shows that generosity is not a zero-sum, win-lose practice. In fact, generosity leads to abundance for the giver. The more you give away, the more you get back. Sometimes that comes back to us in the same form that we give: money, time, love… Consistently, however, studies show that generous people experience larger shares of even more valuable things than those they gave away: happiness, health, personal growth, and a clear sense of joy and purpose.

According to one of the largest, recent studies on generosity, if you want the best chance at being very happy in life, then do these things…

1. Give away 10% or more of your income.

2. Volunteer to serve others 5 or more hours/month.

3. Be relationally generous with your attention and positive emotions.

4. Host your neighbors in your home and do things to help them.

That’s a pretty short list for practices that can make you happy. But I’ve got even better news. That same research shows that if you also want to have more physical health, experience more personal growth, and have a clear sense of joy and purpose in your everyday life, then just do those same 4 things.

Consider the simple wisdom of Proverbs 11:24, “One gives freely and gains even more. Another withholds and ends up impoverished.” I’m betting this is what Jesus had in mind when he taught in Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. The measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

I hope you’ll join me for worship during the month of October as we explore the paradox of generosity that in giving we receive – grasping we lose.

Sandra and I are committing to continue the 4 generous spirit practices listed above in the coming year. Would you consider joining us?

We are praying for your happiness, your health, your ongoing growth and vitality, joy and purpose in your everyday life. We love you church!

Pastor Jim

October 4, 2026
You Are Caretakers, Not Owners
Luke 12:29-48, 2 Corinthians 9:8-11

October 11, 2026
Be Generous to the Poor
Luke 12:13-21 and 29-34

October 18, 2026
Watch Out for Holding Things Too Tightly
Ecclesiastes 5:10-13, &
Matthew 19:16-30