Experts say how generosity prolongs life

Jet, Dec 16, 2002 by Scotty Ballard

It's been said that any good you do to someone the same will be done to you in return.

And, according to a University of Michigan study, older people who were helpful to others reduced their risk of dying by nearly 60 percent compared to those who offered neither practical help nor emotional support to relatives, neighbors or friends. It was found that people who reported providing no help to others were more than twice as likely to die as people who were generous, and gave help to others.

But does doing good for others really have positive benefits-like some type of cosmic reciprocity such as living longer? JET queried experts in theology, business, psychology and sociology to see what they had to say about how generosity prolongs life.

"Generosity not only contributes to physical longevity, but spiritual longevity as well," says Dr. Hycel B. Taylor of the Pilgrim Baptist Church in Chicago, a professor of Applied Theology who taught at Garrett United Methodist Seminary at Northwestern University for over 15 years. "I think the Bible teaches us that when you are giving out that which God has given you, you also release life, so that life can go on and on," Taylor states. "Jesus primarily is saying seek you first your spiritual life, and then the physical universe and all that will come to you [Matthew 6:3234]."

Taylor points out that in order for people to become more generous, or more of a "Good Samaritan," they need to be able to release their grip on carnal possessions, perhaps by making financial or material donations to the poor.

"The spiritual dimension of life needs no material things. There was an extraordinary statement made by a highly wealthy White woman who joined [Mahatma] Ganhi in India and gave up all her wealth," recalls. "When asked why she did it, she said, `Whomever has more than they need, they're robbing someone else.'"

A [Biblical] scripture that is probably relevant to that is when Christ talked of the rich man not getting into heaven [Matthew 19:23-25]," according to Taylor. "Christ said it was easier for a rich man to go through the eye of a needle than to get into heaven."

According to Taylor, whenever someone loads his spirit with material things, he becomes senior to his spiritual reality "and it translates in the Bible to idolatry."

"The way you get beyond material things is to give it away," offers Taylor. "When people hold on to what they have, nothing more can come into them. There is nothing on the earth that has not always been here. There is no ownership. The Bible teaches us to be in the world and not of the world. The moment you do that, you die spiritually."

But being generous doesn't always have to be about money, says Carolyn Jefferson of Dallas, an entrepreneur who owns a design firm that specializes in designing storage for the home.

"I have been volunteering consistently since 1996. I guess it was when I really decided to get serious about my [Christian] faith walk. I came to understand that my relationship with God was about more than just what God can do for me; I also had a responsibility for what I should do for the Lord," explains Jefferson, who volunteers serving food at a local homeless shelter.

As a Christian, Jefferson believes that when she is obedient to God, "He sustains you."

We have a responsibility to shine His light into the world and to show His love ... you get renewed and encouraged to go on. Not only are you making a difference in people's lives, but you're making a difference in yours," she says. "I understand why people live longer, because you have so much more peace about life. And the little stuff that used to get on your nerves doesn't anymore. Like if my job was threatened, well, I don't have to worry about it because I know where I'm going to eat!" she laughs.

As she looks in the rearview mirror while traveling on the road of success, Jefferson knows her success didn't occur in a vacuum.

"Affirmative action has caused a lot of my generation to financially achieve more than we ever dreamed. We really need to start giving back more, as a race ... we owe it to the system that saved us."

And the Black struggle-poverty, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, and other emotional stressors resulting from exposure to racism, especially in the wake of tough economic times--is a fierce competitor to generosity, says Colorado psychologist Dr. Anthony Young.

"From a psychological point of view, in general, it may seem somewhat believable that people who give may tend to live longer," he says. "The recent University of Michigan study makes the assertion, but it is limited ... in the case of African-Americans, the issue is much more complex than it appears on the surface."

Still, altruism, the act of giving to others from the kindness of our hearts without the expectation of receiving something from others in return, is very much a tradition in the Black community," states Taylor. "We have a history replete with examples of everyday people who have given of themselves or even sacrificed their life savings in order to make life a bit easier for others."