“Let not the rich man boast over his wealth” (Yirmeyahu 9:22)
The rich man who boasted over his wealth was Korach of the tribe of Levi, who had three hundred white horses carrying the keys to his treasure-houses. His treasures themselves were beyond comprehension. Where did he attain such wealth? It was from the money which Yosef had accumulated in Egypt. Yosef had erected three towers, which were each one hundred amot deep and one hundred amot high. Korach acquired the contents of one of these towers and became fabulously wealthy. Why was he called Korach (קרח)? Because in his day, there was a korchah (baldness) in Bnei Yisrael. Therefore, let not the rich man glorify himself with his wealth. All wealth belongs to Hakadosh Baruch Hu, as the pasuk says (Chagai 2:8), “Mine is the silver and Mine is the gold – the word of Hashem, Master of Legions.” Moreover, we are taught (Mishlei 21:21), “One who pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor” (Otzar Hamidrashim).
“Do not fear when a man becomes rich, when he increases the wealth of his house, for when he dies, he will not take anything, his wealth will not descend after him” (Tehillim 49:17-18)
Who is rich? One who is happy with his lot, as it says: When you eat of the labor of your hands, fortunate are you, and it is good for you. Fortunate are you – in this world; and it is good for you – in the World to Come (Avot 4:1).
The more one chases after money, the more he chases away his money (Panim Yafot, Vayikra 26).
The sefer Menorat Hama’or (4:149) relates the following narrative. Rabbi Akiva once went to the market to sell a pearl. He noticed an extremely wealthy man who wore old, patched clothing and behaved very humbly. He held himself in low esteem and sat with the beggars in the Beit Hakeneset. When he saw Rabbi Akiva’s jewel, he wished to purchase it. He convinced Rabbi Akiva to escort him home in order to get the money for the pearl. Rabbi Akiva agreed, all the while assuming the man was making a mockery out of him.
When they reached the man’s home, his servants came out to greet him. They seated him on a golden chair and washed his feet. He commanded a servant to give Rabbi Akiva the money for the pearl. Then he ordered them to polish it and place it with his other valuable jewels. When Rabbi Akiva observed these goings-on, he was baffled.
Then the man ordered that the table be set. Rabbi Akiva and his disciples sated themselves. When they finished their meal, Rabbi Akiva turned to his mysterious host and asked, “Hashem has obviously blessed you with tremendous wealth. Why, then, do you demean yourself by sitting in the corner of the Beit Hamidrash, together with the paupers?”
The man replied, “The pasuk in Tehillim (144:4) says, ‘Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.’ Money does not last forever. Therefore, I find sitting among the paupers very beneficial. It prevents me from becoming haughty and proud of the wealth with which Hashem has blessed me. Moreover, before I amassed all this wealth, my place was with the paupers. I insist on keeping it that way. One day, I may find myself stripped of all my material assets. Then, I will not feel the pinch so strongly, since I have become accustomed to sitting with the poor people. In this manner, I practice the charge of Shlomo Hamelech, who said (Kohelet 10:4), ‘If the anger of a ruler is directed against you, do not leave your place.’ Furthermore, I consider all Jews, rich and poor, as equal. Hashem abhors those who are prideful.”
