By Phil Lenahan

Generosity has a side benefit -- happiness

Money can't buy it, but sharing your wealth with others does the trick

In a recent study published in the journal Science, three researchers from Harvard Business School found that people are happier when they give money to charity, rather than spending solely on themselves.

One of the studies involved employees who received profit-sharing bonuses of between $3,000 and $8,000. In the words of Elizabeth Dunn, the lead researcher, it "was not so much the size of the bonus, but how they spent it," that determined the person's level of happiness.

I was pleased to see the results from the survey because they reflect a Catholic sensibility. After all, Sacred Scripture reminds us not only that the call to generosity is an important part of our Christian walk but that being generous is actually good for us. Proverbs 14:21 says, "Happy is he who is kind to the poor." In the book of Acts, we are reminded, "In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive'" (20:35).

Living out God's call

While the results make sense, we should remember that we don't give in order to feel good. We should be a generous people because that's what the Lord calls us to. The fact that it leads to us being happier is just a "side benefit."

How can we more effectively live out the call to generosity? The Code of Canon Law provides effective guidelines for our giving. "The Christian faithful are obliged to assist with the needs of the Church, so that the Church has what is necessary for divine worship, for apostolic works and works of charity and for the decent sustenance of ministers. They are also obliged to ... assist the poor from their own resources" (No. 222).

The tithe was the primary model whereby the Israelites fulfilled their call to give under the Old Covenant. St. Irenaeus writes of a transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. Instead of considering that the Lord was due a tenth of what we had, we recognize that the Lord ultimately owns all we have. We are his stewards -- or managers. While how much we give to charity is now voluntary, the tithe -- or 10 percent -- continues to be a worthy practice.

Planned giving

Unfortunately, Catholics in the United States give only a little more than 1 percent for charitable purposes. We have fallen into the habit of giving out of what is leftover, and in a consumer society such as ours, it's easy for there to be nothing left! I encourage you to make your giving a planned part of your finances -- choose to give from your first fruits, not from what's leftover. I often hear from people how they enjoy making gifts to charity as compared with paying their other bills.

I recall one phone call from a woman who wanted to tithe, but whose husband was opposed. After sharing some of my written materials on the topic with him, he became more open to increasing their giving. She was sharing with me the changes that had occurred in their family since then. Her husband was growing closer to God, to her and to the children. That's real happiness!

So while the amount we choose to give is voluntary, take St. Paul's words to heart. "The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:6-7).

Phil Lenahan is president of Veritas Financial Ministries and author of "7 Steps to Becoming Financially Free: A Catholic Guide" (OSV, $19.95).