We have been discussing the differences in outlook between the Baal Bitachon and the one who doesn’t have Bitachon. We are up to the fifth difference, which is that when the one who relies on Hashem involves himself in efforts or tactics, he understands that ultimately, his main goal is, להכין מהם צידה לאחריתו-to produce provisions (in preparation) for his end.
He wants to get to Olam haba.
וספוק לבית מועדו
And he understands that everything he does is just an opportunity to generate mitzvot.
When he goes to work, he doesn’t go to make money. He knows that his money comes from Hashem. He goes to work because he knows that Hashem is giving him opportunities to overcome challenges and generate merits.
It’s like someone running an obstacle course, or running from Ave J to Ave Z and back. His goal is not to get to Ave Z. His goal is to burn calories, and does this by running. If he was offered a ride at Ave L, he wouldn’t take it, because he knows his goal is to burn calories. If he was mixed up about his goal, however, he might jump in the car. So too, if you’re going to work, and your goal is to get to Olam Habah, if someone offered you a shady deal, you wouldn’t take it. On the other hand, if you think that the goal is to make money, you might take that shady deal.
The Baal Bitachon understands that with every challenge and test in daily life, the goal isn’t to get what he thinks he’s supposed to get, because he knows that was decided on Rosh Hashanah. His goal is to overcome challenges and use his daily opportunities to get to Olam Habah. This is very different than the non Baal Bitachon. The Hovot HaLevavot teaches that Baal Bitachon says, “If it’s something that will bring me success in Torah and mitzvot, I’ll get involved in it.” But if it’s not going to bring him success in Torah, or it may cause him to rebel against his Creator, he won’t get involved, because that’s not his focus. He understands where he’s going. It’s a different outlook, which goes back to the principle that that Baal Bitachon understands, that our Hishtadlut is there for two reasons.
1-To keep us out of trouble: The whole reason for going to work is to keep us busy so we stay out of trouble. So going to work and then getting into trouble at work would be counterproductive. G-d gave us jobs to keep us off the streets, not to get into trouble.
2- The second reason is that it’s a test- a challenge and an opportunity to make the right choices and earn Olam Habah, in which case cheating is waste of time
On the other hand, the non-Baal Bitachon’s focus at work is on making money, therefore, he does anything in his ability to make money, whether G-d allows it or doesn’t.
He doesn’t think about the end goal of getting to Olam Habah. It’s not in his head at all. He has the, “I’m in this world, for this world” attitude. As the pasuk says,”Eat and drink, for tomorrow we will die.” The non-Baal Bitachon is just in it for now. He doesn’t care about the future. This is a fundamental difference between the Baal Bitachon and the Non Baal Bitachon, and really it’s the difference between Esav and Yaakov. When it came time to sell the birthright, Esav says, “Why do I need it, I’ll die anyway.” He didn’t need the future, or religion, or Olam Habah. He wanted to enjoy now.
The Hovot HaLevavot quotes a pasuk:
חכם ירא וסר מנע
The wise man has fear, and therefore he stays away from evil.
איזהו הוא חכם הרואה את הנולד
The meaning of “Hacham/wise man is one who sees the future.
We recently read about Yosef being introduced to Paroah. After Yosef interprets the dream, Paroah said there was no one wiser than Yosef. What was his wisdom? He gave the advice about saving the food for the future. Our rabbis tell us that this is a mashal for us. Everyone must save up “food” for the future. There will come a time when we won’t have “food” with us, in Olam Habah. All we will have in Olam Habah is our Sedah LaDerech - our provisions for the way. It’s a long trip, a very lonnngg plane ride that we need to prepare for! Every day that we go to work and live through life’s challenges, we put more food in our little lunchbox that will take us on that final trip.
The Baal Bitachon’s focus is not for today. It’s how he uses today for tomorrow
Have a great day.