The Hovot HaLevavot now discusses the man that does not rely on Hashem, as it relates to the concept of hoarding:
He says the one that doesn’t rely on Hashem is always in a bad mood, he’s always worried about what might happen. He’s always worried that he’s not going to get what he wants, and therefore he’s always hoarding. He thinks he needs more money, because he doesn’t know how long he’s going to be here. He thinks he has to save up for his children, his grandchildren and his great grandchildren-as if he’s going to live forever. As we’ve mentioned, this is somewhat of a paradox: he relies on Hashem that he’s going to live a long life, but he doesn’t rely on Hashem to take care of his needs. He doesn’t think about the future and he doesn’t plan for the next world. He is just worried about how he’s going to make it, so he’s always hoarding. If you tell him, “Come on, don’t you believe in Olam Habah? Don’t you believe in the world to come? You’re 83 already! When are you going to stop working and take some time to learn and prepare?” His answer will be that he needs to have enough money for his children and grandchildren and forever and when he has enough, then he’ll be able to stop and do what else needs to be done.
The Hovot HaLevavot gives this type of person a title. He calls them:
בעלי המשכונות
“The people that want a collateral from G-d”
He dedicates an entire chapter to this concept, to the mistake of the people that feel that only when they have it in their hand, then they will be able to serve G-d. Until they have it in their hands, they can’t do it.
The Hovot HaLevavot explains the error of this concept:
He refers to these people as seeking collateral, because they’re compared to people who, when asked to lend money to someone, don’t trust the person, so they want collateral. They ask for a gold watch, the deed to a building, or some other valuable item before they’re willing to trust the person. People don’t lend money that easily. So when this type of person is asked by Hashem to do things such as to go to shul, close his store in Shabbat, pray or learn, he might say, “I don’t have the money yet.” G-d says, “Don’t worry, I’ll give it to you when you need it.” But the man isn’t ready to take that leap of faith. He wants the money in his hand.
We all have a bit of this in ourselves, to a certain extent, and so the Hovot HaLevavot devotes a chapter to explain the mistake of this outlook. The Elder of Navardok explains, in his sefer Madregat HaAdam, that there’s an important principle of Bitachon related to this concept, he says that it’s like teaching a child how to swim. As long as the child is holding onto something, be it the wall of the pool, the swimmy, or their parent, they can’t really swim. In order to learn, they have to take that leap of faith and let go. You can’t learn to swim if you’re holding on. You can’t be half baked. You can’t hold on and think you’re swimming. You have to let go.
The same is true when it comes to Bitachon. Many of us don’t really get to exercise our Bitachon, because we aren’t ready to let go of the swimmy, the wall, or dad. We can’t say, “That’s it! I’m in Hashem’s hands.”
In another Mashal, a man is hanging from a cliff, holding on for his life. A voice calls out from G-d and says, “Don’t worry, let go. I’m here to catch you.” But of course, the person doesn’t have the courage to let go.
In life, we get comfortable with our hishtadlut (which we need, of of course) and all of our different support systems- money in the bank, our fathers or great uncles who help us, our friends who are there to bail us out. We need that support, but as long as we use that support, it prevents us from finally swimming.
As we complete this fifth chapter and start the sixth, we ask you to stretch yourselves a little beyond your limits, let go and dive into the world of Bitachon.
Have a great day.