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"Honor HaShem from
your wealth and from the first of all your profit There is nothing Heaven smiles upon more than the expression of generosity. No other trait better defines Heaven more than being generous. Therefore, one who is generous in all ways and means here on Earth, Heaven is in turn generous with such a one in all ways and means. Heaven interacts with us in accordance to the age-old rule, “what you give is what you get.” Mind well this truth, for it will guide your destiny, whether or not you like it or believe it. The nature of reality dictates that we are all somehow or another dependent upon one another. This is true in nature and it is true of us. No one is an island unto oneself. As independent as one wishes to be, in some way or another we will always remain dependent upon another for something. This is life, this is natural, it is the way of Heaven and Earth. Those who are wise embrace this truth and use the natural ways to better themselves, their lives and the others with whom they are in contact. Fools continue to believe themselves detached and thus bring loss and suffering upon themselves and others. Our world goes around and we are never the center of it. Those who try to make the world revolve around themselves are always in for a rude awakening. For as the one stands still and demands the world revolve around him, this one soon finds out that the world has moved on and one is left out-of-place, stranded and isolated. One will have to play a game of catch-up just to get back to the rightful place that one should have been in the beginning. One who gives freely will be given freely. One with wisdom recognizes and knows that everything that we possess one day or another will pass on to another. All things on Earth are mere temporary possessions. Therefore, we should use what we need and share what we do not need. Hoarding much gives the false impression of having much. Yet, one with much has much to lose. It is the way of life for there to be loss. Generosity means sharing. It means giving of what one has in one’s possession at present to another so the needs of the other can be met, even as yours are met. This giving must be free and in good will. Taking from another without such good will and agreement is stealing. Stealing is always wrong. Yet, selfishness breeds stealing. For when one hoards and prevents another from rightfully acquiring one’s own needs, one is tempted to act in like kind, without good will, towards the other. When this occurs, bad will reigns supreme. No one trusts another. All seek to hoard. In the end, everyone becomes an island unto themselves, seeking only their own good. In the end, all the islands waste way and are left behind, for without cooperation and working together, without sharing, that which one needs from another is not forthcoming. The one who runs out of what one needs first dries up and dies. This happens one after another until all the isolated islands are gone. Giving of money can be easy, especially for one who has a lot to give. Yet, one must also give of one’s heart, one’s time, and one’s efforts. For a moderate individual it is enough to be generous with a moderate amount. For a wealthy person, much more has been given, much more is thus expected. The wealthy who hoard their wealth and do not gives thanks to Heaven by using what Heaven has given them to assist Heaven’s other children will see in their lives how Heaven will in the end turn away from the selfish soul. One must give, this is natural. One does not have to give all, for this is unnatural. Yet, one must give and help others. A general rule is for one to give ten percent of one’s net income; this is a wise and noble rule to follow. Seek out those in need and provide for those needs. Do not do so to aggrandize yourself. Provide for others through a trusted intermediary. Appoint a trusted soul to find a proper and needy receptacle for what Heaven has blessed you to give. When the one who gives and the one who receives both acknowledge Heaven as their benefactor, then all is proper and in harmony. In such a world, peace can only reign supreme.
Comments? Questions?
Yeshivat Lev Torah -
Collel Benei N'vi'im |
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