The Hovot HaLevavot now goes into the fifth introduction, which is a deeper understanding of a concept that we have discussed before: Sibbot- causes.
We know that money doesn’t fall from heaven. We must go through our efforts.
And we know that G-d’s gezerot make it happen, but that there are intermediaries in the middle.
We discussed the mashals of G-d playing pool, and the way the ball hits many sides of the table until it finally sinks into the hole. We also spoke about the Rube Goldberg machine, and how there can be 80-100 steps involved until something happen, but ultimately it’s G-d’s gezera that makes things happen.
At this point, the Hovot HaLevavot asks: Why do we need sibbot? Why did G-d make the world this way? Why this system? If we know that the money we earn has already been decided on Rosh Hashanah, and that all our efforts won’t make a difference, why do we even need this system?
The Hovot HaLevavot gives us two reasons, the first of which we will discuss today.
The first reason is that G-d wants to test us. Life is a test. This is very important principle. Mesilat Yesharim says the same thing. One of the main reasons we are here, (besides to do Mitzvot) is to constantly be tested.
If you woke up in the morning and a gold bar fell from heaven straight to your doorstep, there would be no test. Therefore, you have to get up and go to work. That’s a test. You could have done nothing at all, all day in work, and still accomplish! How?
There are tests for us everywhere. Driving is a test. Traffic laws are a test. Not getting angry or cutting people off is a test. A lot can happen just getting from home to work and back.
Then there’s the test of whether you are honest in business; of whether you are treating your employees properly; of making sure you’re not acting improperly.
There’s a long list of tests that we go through in any given day. Do we get upset, get angry, and scream?
There is plenty that you can either do wrong or right.
We are tested in giving charity. We are tested in endless ways.
Our entire daily schedule is an obstacle course. It’s not about making money. This is an eye-opener. It’s a reframe for life. It’s not about the money, it’s just an obstacle course. Are you going fall into the pit or will you be able to swing over that crevice? It’s all a test of resilience, of Emunah, of Bitachon.
Life is constant tests.
So G-d creates obstacle course after obstacle course for us, with various levels, from novice to professional- from green to black diamond.
There’s the summer obstacle course, the winter obstacle course; there’s the home obstacle course and the office obstacle course.
Every step of the way, there’s a test.
At the grocery store, at the gas station, in shul: The food in shul doesn’t come straight from heaven. If they serve food in your shul, do you complain or say thank you?
All sibbot are here for this reason: for us to be tested.
Life is a test. We have to keep that in mind. And if we know that, than we can be prepared. We can be ready for it.
If you know in advance that someone is testing you to see if you’ll get upset, it’s much easier. It’s easier to know in advance.
Life is not here to be easy. Life is here to be a test.
Rabbi Ades once gave an example from the Olympics sport of pole vaulting. In pole vaulting, you run and jump over a high bar. If someone asked them to lower the bar to three feet, that would not be a challenge. You have to jump over the high bar. That’s why G-d made life. We are here to pass the test. And if you can pole vault at 8 feet, you try 9 feet.
As long as you know what you’re here for, you have an advantage.