Serving others may benefit your wellbeing!

Today, let’s examine ways in which the Bible helps us with our daily life and wellbeing. Last week, we explored how adherence to basic Christian principles of daily living, such as prayer, praise, fellowship, receiving Biblical teaching, and outreach (Acts 2:42,47) can be a tool we use to enhance personal wellbeing. Now let’s focus on one aspect of these principles, personal service. Serving others can have a profound impact on both the giver and the receiver. 

 

Teleios recently evaluated the effect of personal service on wellbeing at Grace Community Church (https://teleiosresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/CV-TELEIOS-GCC-II-CMHJ-2013.pdf). We surveyed 309 adults in two services on one Sunday.

 

The survey showed that individuals who routinely participated in a community or church-based service program, compared to those who did not, had better wellbeing scores in contentment, peace, joy, purpose and community acceptance. Wow!  Who wouldn’t want that? Additionally, people who served had a better global wellbeing score (average of seven questions together) than those who did not serve.

 

Interestingly, the study showed the benefit of service might occur with as little as just one hour a week helping others!  The benefit was even greater when people served up to 6 hours per week. In addition, the perceived benefit of the service did not depend on the type of service, whether in the church or in non-church-sponsored community service. 

 

That leads us to ask why personal service would help wellbeing. Personal service can significantly enhance your wellbeing in several ways:

1. Emotional Satisfaction: Helping others can lead to a sense of accomplishment and joy. Knowing you’ve made a positive impact can boost your mood and overall happiness.
2. Stress Reduction: Engaging in acts of kindness can lower stress levels. It shifts your focus away from your own worries and helps you gain perspective on your own life.
3. Social Connections: Serving others often involves interacting with people, which can reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation. Building these connections can provide a strong support network.
4. Increased Self-Esteem: When you help others, it can improve your self-worth and confidence. Seeing the positive effects of your actions can reinforce a positive self-image.
5. Physical Health: Some studies suggest that volunteering and helping others can lead to better physical health, including lower blood pressure and a longer lifespan.
6. Sense of Purpose: Engaging in meaningful activities can give your life a greater sense of purpose and direction, which is crucial for mental and emotional wellbeing.

 

Have you ever experienced any of these benefits from helping others?

 

Thank you for visiting today. We are honored that you take time to read this post. We hope you will join us again next week!

 

William C. Stewart, MD

 

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