I once read a book by a rabbi. He related that he had been a rabbi on a college campus for a number of years and he kept observing how his students went out into the world after they graduated and made a lot of money. He felt that he was really missing out. When was HE going to go out into the world and also make lots of money?? They were soooo successful and he was a mere rabbi.
I wasn't sure I was reading this right. It seems that it never dawned on him that there are things in life more important than money. In his narrative, success was defined by how much money you make. Period. But spreading Dvar Hashem? Second rate. The sad ending is that he ended up making loads of money [some of it in very shady non-ben-Torah ways - including having to flee the country in which he resided after being guilty of tax evasion] and now, presumably, he is satisfied with himself. For if money is what life is all about, then he MADE it.
People are all-too-often slaves to money. Since we are celebrating the Festival of Freedom, it behooves us to release ourselves from this jail.
Have money? Yes.
Enjoy your money? Yes.
But not to be enslaved to it.
And to put it in its proper perspective. If you have a child, then he or she is worth more than all of the money in the world. The reason we aren't as happy as we should be is that we take our children for granted. We also take the money and comforts we have for granted and often worry TERRIBLY about losing out on money we don't even need. We ALL live FAR MORE COMFORTABLY than the richest people 60 years ago. Yet people are soooooo miserable.
As I write I am reminded of an old friend of mine, who runs a company with hundreds of employees and invest hundreds upon hundreds of millions of dollars. He could retire tomorrow if he so chooses and he could live comfortably for the next five hundred years. Is he happy? I am not so sure [he is most extremely stressed out and tense - that is the way he was before he had such a stressful job...]. But one thing I AM almost sure of - I know people who learn and or teach Torah who are MUCH happier. MUCH. With VERY VERY little money.
What people REALLY want is to be happy. They just identify large amounts of money with automatic happiness and thus spend their life pursuing the means [money] and ignoring the end [happiness]. Big mistake.
Yismach Lev Mevakshei Hashem. Happiness comes from having meaning. Tehillim knew that before Viktor Frankel. The deepest level of meaning in life that one can achieve is to connect to the only source of life, true pleasure and eternity.
When we have Hashem - we can really enjoy our money because our connection to Him gives the money meaning. Otherwise, we will be full on the outside - big houses, cars, fancy vacations etc. etc. - but empty on the inside. And the inside is what really matters. We all know that.
The best proof is Hollywood. There is so much substance abuse, depression, failed relationships and a very long list of problems suffered by people who really seem to have it all - money, fame, popularity, good looks etc. etc. If you would spend fifteen minutes listening to them talk to their therapists you would know better what I mean. Is Jeff Amazon Bezos happy? I have little doubt that he is presently very, very unhappy. [and not only because all of his money can't buy him a full head of hair]. How would YOU feel if you had to pay your ex-wife tens of billions of dollars [even if you were left with tens of billions yourself]? Some would say "Who cares?!" OK - but he can no longer live with his children. How would THAT feel to you?? [He tweeted: "I'm so grateful to all my friends and family for reaching out with encouragement and love... MacKenzie [his ex] most of all..... She is resourceful and brilliant and loving, and as our futures unroll, I know I'll always be learning from her." Yeah, sure. As we used to say as kids when hearing baloney - "my foot!"] Breaking one's family asunder is no recipe for happiness. My marriage is worth more to me than his 50 billion [or whatever paltry sum he will be left with]. So who is richer??
THANK G-D we know better than to stake all of our life satisfaction in our bank accounts. So earn lots of money - and then spend it on things that will make your life meaningful. THAT is the Torah way. And for those who DON'T want to earn a lot of money and just want to get by so that they can focus their efforts and energies on direct service of Hashem such as learning - that is ALSO the Torah way.
Each according to his or her abilities and inclinations.
You already know all this - just a friendly reminder 馃槉馃槉馃槉.
