A famous industrialist of yesterday year was asked how much money was “enough.” His answer suggested, “just a little more than I have now.” Wouldn’t we all like just a little more money? Or maybe a lot more money? Then, we would be happy. Right?
As it turns out, research shows that once a person is earning $75,000 a year making more money does not significantly increase happiness. [http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2019628,00.html] That means that many, many people in this country are not going to be made happier by making more money. And if more than $75,000 doesn’t make us significantly happier why not give generously of the excess and make the people with less than $75,000 happier!
At Christmas we are encouraged to think of giving people gifts that will make them happy. If we want to give gifts that increase happiness, can we think about how we can impact our economy in ways that create more jobs paying $75,000 and fewer jobs paying multi millions and minimum wage? Can we think about how to create a economic climate that rewards and encourages less damage to the environment? Can we think about using all that money over $75,000 to fund education, healthcare, transportation, libraries, free internet, and so many other things that might actually contribute not only to increasing the happiness of some individuals but also to making our society more stable and cohesive as a whole, increasing everyone’s happiness, even those making over $75,000!
Having our needs met for shelter, transportation, healthcare, food, safety, enrichment, expression, relationships increases our happiness. It’s difficult to have a high level of happiness if you don’t know where your next meal is coming from or if you will have a place to sleep tonight. It is hard to be happy if you don’t know how you are going to pay the rent or buy a needed prescription.
We think about bringing gifts to the baby Jesus. May we remember that he was poor and he lived in circumstances that did not offer much in the way of economic opportunity. What did Jesus need? What can we do to serve him today?
Hopefully some of our Christmas giving can truly be oriented toward making others happy, especially those who are experiencing significant economic scarcity through direct giving as well as through transformation of the economic mindset of our country.
“Sell what you own and give the money to poorer people. Make purses for yourselves that don’t wear out – treasures that won’t fail you, in heaven that thieves can’t steal and moths can’t destroy. For wherever your treasure is, that’s where your heart will be.”
Luke 12:33-34
Prayer: We pray for a sense of appreciation for all that we have. May we learn to experience happiness through service and generosity. May our eyes be open to needs of those around us and to our own needs. Amen.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 