Service with a smile!

 

 

Welcome back to the Teleios blog! We are exploring together what the Bible says about personal wellbeing. Otherwise, how can the Bible assist you living a more contented purposeful life?  

 

Last week we began a fascinating discussion of using our biblically enhanced wellbeing to help other people. We first emphasized that our speech should not be used to satisfy primarily our own emotions or purposes, but to meet the needs of others. That takes some work!

 

However, to serve God we should turn our thoughts away from ourselves, as we are able, and reach out to others, not only using gracious speech, but our actions as well. Amazingly, the service we provide to others further enhances not only our knowledge of God, but our own wellbeing as well (Colossians 1:10). 

 

In a survey Teleios performed at Grace Community Church in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, pastored by Dr. Rod MacIlvaine, we found among over 300 attendees that those who were involved in church or community service demonstrated greater personal wellbeing (Read full article, MacIlvaine WR, Nelson LA, Stewart JA, Stewart WC. Association of strength of community service to personal wellbeing. Community Ment Health J 2014;50:577-582).

 

Why would this be? We do not know for certain, but we could speculate the following: first, those who serve other people have the satisfaction of knowing they are meeting the desires of God; second, their own problems are put into proper perspective not only by perceiving the suffering of other people but also by ordering their own priorities under God’s; and lastly, by serving they will focus less on their own troubles perhaps reducing the emotional burden of these problems.

 

Of course, the benefit of serving others is not limited to the person giving but also to the individuals or communities receiving the help. The benefit of service has been little studied in the medical literature, to our knowledge, however, we believe that assistance to communities and giving to individuals promotes a gracious and courteous culture which allows all to pursue their best. 

 

Consider too that a generous local community helps people to remove their dependence on state subsistence which requires taxpayer funding and limits local community action and individual care for one another. Such dependence on a distant government may result potentially in a cold and self-focused community.

 

Thank you for joining me today. I welcome your comments and questions.

 

William C. Stewart, MD

 

Email – info@teleiosresearch.com

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Disclaimer – This blog and its content are provided only as information and are intended for visitors 18 and older. No content on the website should be taken as advice or recommendation to any personal or institutional situation. The views expressed are those of the author alone and not necessarily either shared or endorsed by Teleios. Both the blog and the contents are subject to change at any time without notice. Although I endeavor to ensure that the blog and the content are current and accurate, it may contain errors. I do not represent that the blog or the content is current, accurate or complete, or appropriate for your specific requirements. I do not accept any liability from any person for the blog, the content or any other information (or the use of such information) I provide. I do not have a seminary degree, but I have trained myself in the scriptures to teach and provide this information. For any specific question, I suggest you contact experts in that field and or do your own research into the scriptures.

 

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

 

Email – info@teleiosresearch.com

Website – http://teleiosresearch.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TeleiosResearch

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/TeleiosResearch

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/TeleiosVideos/

 

 

Disclaimer – This blog and its content are provided only as information and are intended for visitors 18 and older. No content on the website should be taken as advice or recommendation to any personal or institutional situation. The views expressed are those of the author alone and not necessarily either shared or endorsed by Teleios. Both the blog and the contents are subject to change at any time without notice. Although I endeavor to ensure that the blog and the content are current and accurate, it may contain errors. I do not represent that the blog or the content is current, accurate or complete, or appropriate for your specific requirements. I do not accept any liability from any person for the blog, the content or any other information (or the use of such information) I provide. I do not have a seminary degree, but I have trained myself in the scriptures to teach and provide this information. For any specific question, I suggest you contact experts in that field and or do your own research into the scriptures.