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My child, if you will
take my words and my directives, it will be well with you. To everything, there is a value. To everything, there is a price. One’s character as a person is revealed and defined by what one considers to be of value. There are those who value foolish and vain things. It is no wonder then that individuals of this nature are themselves foolish and vain. One is always attracted to what one is, one always wants more of what one already has. One who is shallow is attracted to shallow things. The opposite is also true; one who is shallow or foolish will not be attracted to that which has depth or requires wisdom. Those who value smart and wise things also reveal their inner nature. Their pursuits in life reflect the nature of their character and their wisdom. Wisdom and being smart is not something acquired from books; it cannot be proclaimed by a some sort of a degree from a school. Having wisdom and being smart is what you do. If you have it, you do it. The opposite is also true, if you do not do it, then you do not have it. The higher the value of a thing, the greater its price and greater the hardship to acquire it. This is true of both physical things and non-physical things. High levels of education, emotional maturity and spiritual wisdom with insight only come about after one has made incredible efforts to receive them. The adage said in the sport of weight training holds true in application to acquiring perfection of one’s inner traits. No pain, no gain. One who wishes to climb to the heights of achievement and success must be willing to make many sacrifices. The truly valuable rewards do not come easily, for this is the nature of the real world. Real people, living in this real world, who possess real vision as to how the real world works, know these lessons well, and live by them. One cannot change the ways of the world, even more so the ways of Heaven. One who is wise does not resist the ways of Heaven, but instead surrenders to them and allows Heaven to work in harmony with one’s own pursuits. One who surrenders to Heaven finds that both the needs of Heaven and the needs of the individual are equally filled. Yet, this is a lesson only properly appreciated through wisdom, understanding and intelligence. These three ingredients are sorely lacking today in the recipe of human society. Knowledge of G-d; what good is this information in real life, for G-d is in Heaven and we are on earth. Knowledge of G-d actually has very little to do with religion and a whole lot to do with life. G-d is the Creator of the Law; this includes the laws of nature and the laws that govern human psychology and behavior. It is G-d the Creator who originally established the cause and effect relationship of behavior and consequence. Whether or not we believe in G-d is of no matter. The laws of nature and the inherent consequences of violating them is a known and given fact. Believe what you will, you are still subject to the Law. This is not religion; this is life. Violation of this is death and not because G-d is punishing you, but rather because you are subject to the natural consequences of violating natural law. Knowledge of G-d, therefore is knowledge of nature. Both can give one life and save one from death. What is more valuable that this? When you realize this knowledge that G-d is the Creator, author and director of natural law and its consequences, you will intuitively develop an awe or fear of HaShem. When you know what you do has meaning and that your behavior has consequences, this makes any rational being pause and think about what should be done next. Information about what is the right thing to do; at the right time in the right way is the most valuable commodity in the world. Only one who has paid for this can possess it and payment cannot be made with money or other transient valuables. Only that which is of true value can purchase this which is of true value. Consider well what has true value and where best to invest your energies.
Comments? Questions?
Yeshivat Lev Torah -
Collel Benei N'vi'im |
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