We now study the person that thinks he’s okay, that has everything he thinks he needs; he’s successful, has a business, a family, a car a house- he has it all, and doesn’t think he needs Hashem.
Well, unless he has the proper outlook, it can all be his downfall.
As the Hovot HaLevavot tells us:
ואפשר שיהיה הממון סיבת רעתו ואבדן
His money, if it’s non-Bitachon money, will cause his downfall and destroy him
And he quotes from Shlomo HaMelech, who speaks from both wisdom and Divine inspiration.
(קהלת ה יב): יש רעה חולה ראיתי תחת השמש עשר שמור לבעליו לרעתו.
I saw a horrible disease under the sun- wealth that is protected to its owner, it will ultimately be for his evil. .
If you don’t have Bitachon, your assets will not be for your good.
And if you do have Bitachon, it makes everything good.
Rabbi Miller a’h gave us two strong, classic examples of this concept:
Charles Lindbergh was the first pilot to fly across Atlantic. He became a national hero and grew very wealthy. However, his son unfortunately was the victim of a foiled kidnapping and was killed. Lindbergh died a depressed man. Rabbi Miller says, had he not made all that money he would have been happy. He must have been too reliant on himself and so his fame and his money were ultimately not to his benefit.
Another classic example from Rabbi Miller is John F. Kennedy. He was thrilled to become President of the United States of America, but look how that ended: they put a bullet through his head.
Wealth, fame, and success that are there without reliance on Hashem might look good on the outside, but without Bitachon will backfire.
A less famous example was a man who, years ago, bought himself a new car. He was so excited with his new purchase that he pulled into his garage and sat in the car with the engine running, , listening to his favorite music. By the time the music finished playing, he had died of carbon monoxide poisoning, from sitting indoors in a running car. He was so excited with his new car, it killed him.
These are negative stories. But we call also look at the positive side of this.
Whatever you have will become better if have Bitachon.
When you rely on Hashem and thank Hashem it turns things around.
A lesson that Rabbi Ades teaches about this concept comes from the Gemara that says, ish v Isha - In a marriage, if a couple merits, then the shechina is amongst them. If they don’t merit, it’s a fight. A wife can either be ezer or k’negdo ( a help or a hindrance), depending on whether he merits. People assume this means that they either merit a good spouse or a bad one at the onset of the marriage and that once it’s done, they’re stuck with what they got. .
However, Rabbi Ades says the merit is earned daily. If you thank Hashem for your wife or husband daily, you can reap the benefits daily. Appreciate your husband and he’ll become a wonderful husband and bring you flowers. Thank Hashem for your wife and she’ll be a better wife.
We have to appreciate our gifts daily; thank Hashem and rely on Hashem for them. If we want nachat from our children, our cars houses, elbows, stomachs and kidneys we have to rely on Hashem for them. If we rely on Hashem for these, they become good, or even better. This is a daily avoda and with it everything we have will only be לטובתנו ( good for us) Amen.