Moral Values That Truly Enrich/VALUES THAT WE CAN TRUST

Kindness and generosity

"Wouldn't it be great if you could walk in a store and buy lifelong happiness?"  said an article in the United States by the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley.   "The idea's not as fanciful as it sounds-as long as whatever you buy is meant for someone else."  The point?  Giving makes us happier than receiving. 

What the Bible says: "There is more happiness in giving than that is in receiving." -Acts 20:35. 

Often the best form of giving-and the most rewarding-is giving of ourselves, in the form of our time and energy.   For example, a woman named Karen saw three women-a mother and her two daughters-sitting in a car with its hood up. The mother and one of the girls had to catch a plane; but their care would not start, and the taxi was late. Karen offered to take them, even though the airport was 45 minutes away.  They accepted the offer. On her way back, Karen saw the other daughter still waiting in her car in the parking lot.

"My husband is on his way," the woman said.  "Well, I am glad you are okay," replied Karen.  "I'm going to do some gardening at my Kingdom Hall, or church." 

"Are you one of Jehovah's Witnesses?" the woman asked.

"Yes, said Karen, and brief conversation ensued.

A few weeks later, Karen received a letter in the mail. In part, it read:  "My mother and I haven't forgotten your wonderful deed.  We made our flights, thanks to you!  My sister said that you are one of Jehovah's Witnesses, which explains everything.  My mom is a Witnesses, and I'm an  inactive one. But I'm going to work on that soon!"  Karen was elated that she had been able to help two fellow believers.  "I cried," she said.

Author Charles D. Warner wrote:  "It is one of the beautiful compensations of . .  . life that no one can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."  That is so because God did not create humans to be selfish but, rather, to reflect his own precious qualities. -Genesis 1:27. 

Next time:  Moral Values That Truly Enrich/VALUES THAT WE CAN TRUST -Honesty

From the jw.org publications