Prayer and Abundance

Translated by Rabbi Lazer Brody
 
 
The Creator ingrained in creation the phenomenon whereas prayer invokes Divine abundance. The Creator desires that we pray, for prayer connects a person with to Him and helps us realize that everything we have is a free gift from Him. The more a person prays, the more he binds himself to this realization. By way of water and rain – the basis of life sustenance – the Creator wants to teach us to pray for everything, even a shoestring or a missing button.
 
Rebbe Nachman was impeccable in his appearance. Once, he noticed that his prime disciple Rebbe Natan was missing a button on his coat. Rebbe Nachman asked, “Natan, did you pray for a button?” Rebbe Natan was shocked, thinking to himself, why should a person pray for something so mundane and seemingly insignificant? Rebbe Nachman then asked, “Is it beneath your dignity to ask for a button?” In other words, prayer teaches us humility, that we must ask Hashem for everything.
 
We all understand that Hashem can sustain the universe without our prayers; He certainly doesn’t need our help. But Hashem ingrained the need for prayer in the fiber of creation so that would would have to pray for our needs and thereby get to know Him and connect to Him. Our prayers, which come from down here on earth and ascend to the Heavens, are like the “mist that ascends from earth” and waters all of creation.
 
When we receive abundance after having prayed for it, we know that it’s coming from Hashem and not by some random natural process. But, when a person receives abundance without having prayed for it, he forgets Hashem and gives himself the credit for his cleverness and prowess. Such a person becomes arrogant. So, when Hashem withholds abundance, He is doing it for our own good so that we won’t slip into arrogance or heresy, Heaven forbid. Since prayer is the gate to the Heavenly Throne, it’s our expression of emuna, where we declare our constant dependence on Hashem. Only He can sustain us and meet all of our needs.
 
Rebbe Natan explains that anything attained without prayer is detrimental to a person (see Likutei Halachot, Yora Deah, Ribit, Ch. 5). Since prayer creates a proper receptacle for Divine abundance, when a person lacks prayer, he is incapable of properly utilizing Divine abundance. We’ve seen this time after time. For example, a simple day laborer suddenly wins millions in the national lottery. This is abundance that he hasn’t prayed for. His new wealth presents him with difficulties that he never dreamed of. People in similar situations have lost families, suffered insanity, even committed suicide.
 
People who find themselves with sudden promotions or speedy ascent to a higher rank, level of responsibility or public office without previous prayer become arrogant and oftentimes tyrannical. Even former friends resent them.
 
Spiritual abundance received without prior prayer is also detrimental. A person who succeeds in learning advanced levels of Torah or who gains insights into Torah wisdom without having prayed for them will attribute his gains to his own intelligence. He too will become smug and arrogant.
 
In any event, success without prayer separates a person from Hashem.
 
Don’t think that only grandiose things like winning the lottery or earning a major promotion or public office are detrimental when received without prayer. Even when a person attains something small like an article of clothing or food without prayer, he or she becomes arrogant. Abundance without prayer is a spiritual venom that misleads a person to think that he can manage without Hashem.
 
In light of all the above, praying for all our needs is the best protection against arrogance.
 
We can now readily understand why Hashem withheld the rains until Adam prayed for them. Hashem wanted the notion of prayer to be ingrained on Adam, the first human, and therefore on all of his offspring. Prayer gives a person his vitality and uplifts him from the level of animal to the level of a human being.
 
Sometimes we wonder how certain rich people can feel emptiness despite the fact that they have every material amenity that their heart desires. The empty feeling stems from the fact that they didn’t pray for what they have. They consequently lack a connection with Hashem, for they see no connection between their abundance and The Creator. No wonder they feel a gnawing void that they can’t fill with all the material riches in the world. But with prayer, even a person who lives a modest lifestyle will feel happy and fulfilled.