Can Money Buy You Happiness?

No man can become rich without himself enriching others."
-- Andrew Carnegie

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Money gets a bad rap. You have heard it said before, “Money is the root of all evil.” Money is not the root of evil things. It is the love of and obsession of money that can bring forth and perpetuate evil thoughts and actions. So there you have it; money, in of, and by itself is neither good, nor evil. Money is just an entity that stores value. It is the value that we place on money that is the determining factor. It is true that the obsession of money and acquiring wealth has ruined lives, families, businesses and organizations. It is also true that the giving of money to those in need has saved lives, families, businesses and organizations.

The world is full of well-known philanthropists who amassed fortunes only to give it away for the betterment of mankind. The names of Rockefeller, Buffet, Ford and Carnegie come to mind. It was Andrew Carnegie who stated, “The rich have a moral obligation to be benevolent.” Carnegie’s story is a “rags to riches” tale. Carnegie was born 1835 in Scotland, and grew up in poverty. Carnegie once wrote, “ I began to learn what poverty meant. It was burnt into my heart then that my father had to beg for work. And then and there came the resolve that I would cure that when I got to be a man." At the age of 12, the Carnegie family moved to the United States. Carnegie vowed that if he ever became rich, he would give his fortune away. Andrew Carnegie did become wealthy. In fact, he become one the richest entrepreneurs of his age. Carnegie amassed a fortune as a pioneer in the American steel industry. By 1911, Carnegie had formed numerous foundations, resulting in the giving away of 90 percent of his fortune.

Everyday, not so well known people give to those in needs; it could be some spare change to a homeless person, a gift of money to a support a family who lost their home to a fire, purchasing a benefit dinner ticket for a person with a serious illness, or making a donation to a worthwhile charity or foundation.

So now, I pose the question: Can money buy happiness? I say, yes! Money can make you happy; not by acquiring wealth, power, and material possessions, but by the giving of money to others. In order to experience happiness, the giving must be without the expectation of something in return. Have you ever noticed how you experience a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction when you give money or one of your possessions to someone truly in need?

In a recent experiment, researchers from the University of British Columbia and Harvard Business School demonstrated a correlation between happiness and giving. Participants were given a $10 bill and were asked how much they would share with someone else. Those that gave away the most money reported higher levels of happiness.

There you have it; money can buy happiness. Money can bring happiness if it is given for the benefit of another. If you don’t believe me, take it from leading authority on giving: Jesus Christ. The Good Lord said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35.

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It's your life: Live it, Love it & Celebrate it!
MJD