Keeping up with the Goldbergs
Borrowing money as a last resort to buy bread is somewhat understandable, but borrowing huge sums to take Bermuda vacations or to drive a luxury car?!
The Garden of Riches, Part 15
Rav Avira explains the verse in Psalm 112, “Good is the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice” in the following way. One must eat and drink below his means, clothe and care for himself within his means, and honor his wife and children beyond his means since they are dependent on him as he his dependent on Hashem. Rashi expounds “good is the man who is gracious” – to the poor and lends to them, and “good…conducts his affairs with justice” – judges his own needs with moderation, and doesn’t chase after every desire. “Below his means” – less than he can afford, dressing according to what he can afford without being ashamed; and honoring his wife beyond his means (Tractate Chulin 84b).
Rabbi Akiva says: “Make your Sabbath as a weekday but do not ask for the aid of others (Tractate Shabbat 118a)”. This seems to contradict a different Gemara (Beitza 16b) that says, “Rabbi Yohanan said in the name of Rabbi Elazar son of R’ Shimon – The Holy One said to Israel, take loans in my name and sanctify the holiness of the day, believe in Me and I shall repay”. The latter statement of the sages refers to a person who takes a loan and can repay, but for someone who has no means, Rabbi Akiva’s statement is the correct one.
Rabbi Levi Bender ob”m, the previous generation’s Breslever elder, once spoke of the many occasions when he and his family ate bread and water on the Sabbath. During these times his wife would strengthen his spirit and say, “Thank Hashem that we are eating bread and water, but not going against the wishes of our Rebbe by borrowing and getting into debt”. Although living a very modest lifestyle, and making do with just bread and water, they were nevertheless happy with their lot never owing a thing to another person.
Happy with his lot
Everyone should be happy with his lot and live within the means that Hashem provides, neither overspending for himself or for his household, and certainly not chasing after luxuries. Many people live lifestyles way beyond their means because of the social pressures of pride and prestige. They fall into a spiritually and materially destructive path as they go further and further away from Hashem and his Torah.
King Solomon describes the subscribers to these self-indulgent lifestyles and says (Proverbs, 13), “The stomach of the wicked will always lack”, since their desires are never satiated. Satisfaction is the lot of those who live by the Code of Jewish law, The Shulchan Aruch, thereby giving a portion of their income to charity and living within their means.
Rebbe Nachman teaches (Likutei Moharan I: 54) that through the trait of contentment (or making do) and the trait of charity (giving to others), one attains both soul corrections and positive influences.
Our sages say (Ethics of the Fathers, chapter 6) that the Torah is acquired in 48 ways, one of which is being “happy with his lot”. Such a person doesn’t pursue riches, since he is already rich in his own eyes, for again, the wealthy person is the one who is content with his lot.
In charge of the fund
Many people make mistakes about the concepts of Emuna (faith) and Bitachon (trust)in Hashem. There are those who say “I’ll take a loan since I trust that Hashem will send me the money to cover it”. He places himself in the position of master over Hashem’s funds. Why should Hashem actually give him the money? Maybe it’s not included in the budget Hashem has provided for him the current year? Our sages say, “The sustenance of each person is allotted from one new year to the next” (tractate Beitza 16). Rashi explains “allotted” as a given amount. One should therefore be careful not to spend more than is allocated to him, as no more will be added than what has been predestined.
So what happens if sometime in the middle of the year, one’s funds are exhausted? What will he live on until next year when he gets his new allocation?
If he is so confident that Hashem will give him the money in the future, surely he should ask that Hashem give it to him upfront?! It’s unthinkable that Hashem’s coffers are somehow temporarily empty, G-d forbid, and he is taking a loan until they’re refilled!
The basic mistake people make in regard to Emunah and Bitachon is “false trust” (see Likutei Moharan 1:63). When a person takes loans and becomes indebted, this is actually trust in the Sitra Achra, or dark side, the opposite of holiness. When a person borrows money as a last resort in order to buy bread, this is somewhat understandable, but to borrow huge sums to take Bermuda vacations, to buy a luxury car, or to eat in expensive restaurants?! To impress others or to keep up with the Goldbergs?! Someone else has a gadget, so I must have one too?! Such a person will soon realize how the debt will stop his enjoyment of everything he has.
To be continued.
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