We are continuing with a major concept:
If a person has something and he doesn’t have Bitachon, he doesn’t really have it.
For example, Imagine a man who is all excited about his great, new phone- he researched it, bought the best one... Etc... Then suddenly it starts jamming. He can’t enjoy it- why? Because without Bitachon you can have the item but you won’t benefit from it.
This is a major Hiddush that we really have to think about:
Bitachon can unlock the assets we already have.
The pasuk in Kohelet says: וְלֹא יַשְׁלִיטֶנּוּ הָאֱלֹקִים לֶאֱכֹל מִמֶּנּוּ
Hashem can cause a person to have something and not eat from it
The Hovot Halevavot adds: ויהיה אצלו פקדון -Your money might be a deposit.
Without Bitachon, you are just a teller at a bank: you’re touching the money but it might not be yours.
I recall how as a child, my mother would send me to Shoprite. I would pay the cashier and watch her at the register, with all the money. I came home and told my mother I wanted to work in Shoprite as a cashier. When my mother asked me why, I told her it was because of how much money the cashier collected. Of course my mother pointed out that it’s not the cashier’s money at all, that she’s just handling it for the owners.
That memory comes to mind when I think of what Hovot HaLevavot is teaching us. There are many people holding onto money, but it’s just a פקדון- a deposit.
ששומר אותו מן הפגעים
He’s just watching it until it goes to someone else that’s supposed to get it.
This is the secret of the Hovot HaLevavot: Whatever you have: your car, your watch, your house, your money, if you want to enjoy it, and not just hold onto it for the next person- this is the way to derive benefit from it. You have it already- now you’re finding out how to enjoy it.
Shipping an order is nothing until you get paid. We want to benefit from what we have, not just celebrate something we don’t actually get to enjoy.
So, how do you enjoy it? When you rely on Hashem for an item and say,
“Hashem, I have a car, but I know it’s really Your car- let me use it” that’s the right understanding. Or telling Hashem,“I have a body, a stomach, thank you for my stomach” It’s possible to have a stomach that doesn’t work. If you want to enjoy your stomach and have it work properly, as Rabbi Miller teaches, rely on Hashem for it.
The reliance unleashes all the potential that’s there, and then you aren’t just watching it for someone else.
There was a man who was always very successful. At one point he started buying all of his grandchildren homes. Someone asked him- What are you doing? You’re depleting all your funds! This wise man answered, “Why should I wait until I pass away for them to buy houses- let me help them now while I can enjoy it. I’ll get to see them in their houses!”
Why did he merit this? Not because he was smart or pragmatic, but because he relied on Hashem. What’s more enjoyable than seeing your grandchildren buy houses?
The other man, who didn’t have Bitachon, was just watching his money for his grand children, until they would get it and spend it.
Why watch it for them? Enjoy it now with your grandchildren.
If you rely on Hashem you’re able to enjoy your money.