The Key to Life

Living Emunah By Rabbi David Ashear

Every situation we find ourselves in provides us with unique opportunities to serve Hashem. If a person goes through a period of financial struggle, that is a special opportunity to serve Hashem in a unique way. If a person experiences difficulties with shidduchim, health, or having children, each of those circumstances provides the person with unique opportunities. The key in life is to be able to do the right job in every circumstance that Hashem places us in. Some tests last for months, some for years, and some for just days. Having the proper emunah and acting accordingly will define how successful a person is in this world. One of the great tests of life is how a person acts when Hashem blesses him with wealth. The natural inclination is for the person to feel that he doesn't need Hashem because he is self-sufficient. A wealthy family may feel that they don't have to pray for shidduchim for their children. Since they have money and the ability to buy their children homes and cars and support them, they feel they can get any shidduch they want. If they have a health issue, they may not feel the need to pray as much because they have connections with the top doctors in all fields. One of the big tests of wealthy people is to feel like they have nothing and need Hashem for everything. The Arizal writes that before we say the Amida in Shacharit, we recite the words, ' עוזר דלים ,' Hashem helps the impoverished, and we should feel as if we are impoverished in every area. When a person gets to the beracha of Barech Alenu , no matter how much money he has, he should feel like he has nothing and needs Hashem for every last dollar. When he says Refa'enu , he should feel that all of his connections to doctors are meaningless. Hashem is the only One in the world with the ability to heal him. The same is true with every beracha in the Amida. The greatest genius must feel as though he has no brainpower without Hashem and must beg Hashem during Atah Chonen to grant him the ability to understand. Let us learn this lesson from the way Avraham Avinu acted in the situations that Hashem placed him in. Avraham was the wealthiest man of his generation. How did he act when he needed to buy a burial plot? Imagine today if an extremely wealthy man walked into the offices of the Chevra Kadisha to buy burial plots. He might choose the most prestigious plots, and if told they weren't available, he might say: "Tell me what it costs; I'll pay anything, and I'm not taking no for an answer."He might speak with the attitude that his money can get him whatever he wants, whenever he wants. Avraham Avinu, however, spoke to the B'nei Chet with great humility, saying: I am only a גר ותושב -foreigner and a stranger - among you. The B'nei Chet couldn't believe the way he was talking. They told him, "No, you are our master, you can have whatever you want." The Midrash says, Abraham replied, "Only HaShem is the master." Every time they tried to honor him, he minimized it. And he wasn't just speaking words, he truly believed he didn't deserve any honor. When Avraham sent Eliezer to find a shiddukh for Yitzchak, he did not rely on his wealth. He told Eliezer: " ה' אֱלֹקֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם יִשְׁלַח מַלְאָכוֹ לְפָנֶיךָ ." - Hashem, the God of the Heavens, will send His angel before you. And when Avraham experienced success, he immediately bowed to Hashem in gratitude—unlike the natural inclination of a wealthy man to think he accomplished everything. Baruch Hashem, today, many wealthy individuals emulate Avraham. Despite their wealth, they exhibit tremendous humility. They are true inspirations, overcoming the test of wealth, and they will be eternally rewarded for it. The pasuk says about Yitzchak Avinu: " וַיִּגְדַּל הָאִישׁ, וַיֵּלֶךְ הָלוֹךְ וְגָדֵל, עַד כִּי גָדַל מְאֹד ." The Tiferet Shmuel explains that the pasuk repeatedly uses the word גדול to highlight how a person who overcomes the test of wealth can become a גדול . By acting humbly and perfecting his middot despite his wealth, he achieves greatness. Every stage of life presents a different set of tests. Our success will be determined by how we deal with each circumstance as it arises.