The Hovot HaLevavot talks to us now about a person who merited that the parnasa of many people is dependent on him. He runs a large company, with a hundred employees, and has a large payroll. He calls this
מן הסבות החזקות שבסבות הנסיון -וההסתה לו
One of the greatest tests in life. It’s borderline enticement.
It’s borderline entrapment because it’s so hard to do it right.
Being responsible for large amounts of money, and for many others, is a big test. He lists three possible mistakes people can make with this test.
1- Because he has such great responsibility and pressure to support so many people, he might justify cutting corners. He might do things improperly or illegally, because he has to pay all those people. He might not pay his taxes to make payroll, or do things illegally because people are relying on him.
That’s test number one.
2-When a person has a lot of money running through his fingers, the Hovot HaLevavot explains an important point: Not all the money is meant for personal use.
Some money is used, for example to buy yourself a cup of coffee. This is personal money. Then there is the money that is meant for others- you’re never going to benefit from it. It has nothing to do with you. You’re just a caretaker for that money. It’s hard for some people to differentiate what is meant for them and what’s meant to give out to others. This one of the greatest tests: to know how much charity to give out and how much is for personal use.
Rav Moshe Feinstein, one of the greatest Poskim of the generation, once said that there are two areas in life that questions rarely get asked about: One is about of hinuch- how to educate one’s children, what schools to send them to, etc.
The other area is Sedaka: How much to give, when, and to whom.
So knowing what is yours to spend and what you’re supposed to give to others is test number two.
3- Since he’s giving to so many people, and so many people are relying on him, he starts to want people to praise and thank him, without realizing, as we have said in previous classes, that whatever he’s giving out is what G-d decreed he should give out. He’s just a like a bank teller who wants a thank-you for giving you money from your own account. A man that writes the check to someone is just giving him his money.
The Pasuk says when you give to the poor: את העני עמך this literally means the poor man that’s with you/ in your midst- but the rabbis explain this to mean: את העני that which the poor man has, עמך is with you. You had his money. You just gave him what was his.
So you can fall into the trap of having people feel obligated to you, of becoming arrogant and haughty and looking for honor. One might think, Without me they’d be penniless, without me their source of finance would be cut off.
Those are the big tests of a person with a lot of money and responsibilities. It’s a great test. Therefore, he says, the wise man clarifies three areas in his mind at all times:
1- He is careful and relies on Hashem, strengthens his Bitachon with his responsibilities, and doesn’t play games.
2- He doesn’t rely on the wealth he has. He is always careful with the masses of money because he doesn’t know what’s for him or for others.
3- When he gives it out, he realizes he is just doing his job.
This man, says the Hovot HaLevavot, will be rewarded in this world and in the next and he’s truly a great man.
Good luck and much success to all those given the test of responsibility of having to take care of the wealth of others.