“If G-d… will give me bread to eat and clothes to wear”
(Bereishit 28:20)
“It is better to have a little with fear of Hashem than a great treasure accompanied by turmoil. It is better to have a meal of greens where there is love than a fattened ox where there is hatred” (Mishlei 15:16-17)
Tzaddikim do not ask for luxuries. They request the bare minimum necessary to live. Seeking extravagance causes turmoil and confusion. Whoever truly fears Hashem would do well to be happy with his lot and satisfied with little. He should not crave superfluities, but seek yirat Shamayim. Shlomo Hamelech says that one should prefer to eat less in pleasant company rather than more together with enemies (Rabbeinu Bachya, Bereishit 28).
“Give me neither poverty nor wealth, but allot me my daily bread” (Mishlei 30:8)
Support me with a fixed amount of food to sustain me, and no more (Metzudat David).
Both poverty and wealth can cause a person to sin. Poverty brings a person to flatter others, as the pasuk in Mishlei (18:23) states, “A pauper utters supplications.” Wealth brings a person to indulgence and pride, as the pasuk (ibid.) continues, “but a rich one answers with brazen words.” He eventually becomes abominable, as it says (ibid, 16:5), “Every haughty heart is the abomination of Hashem” (Rabbeinu Bachya, Bereishit 28).
Rabbi Dessler (Michtav Me’Eliyahu) relates the following incident: Many years ago, I was traveling in the northern countries. I noticed a pack of hungry wolves, running about, seeking food. They found the carcass of a small animal lying on the ground. They attacked it ravenously, but since they were each competing to take it, none was able to reach it. They fought viciously over this piece of meat until they were nothing but a bloody mess. They were hungry and injured, lying helplessly in the snow. Only a few strong ones managed to enjoy their repast.
But not much time passed before they, too, began competing for a larger portion. They bit at each other until one triumphed and ran off with the carcass. I watched him flee into the distance, bleeding profusely as he escaped. I thought to myself, “He is wounded, but he will finally sate his hunger.” This was in line with the statement, “With his soul, he acquires his food.” I went to take a look at those left behind. Their wounds were worse than his. They had lost much blood, and their strength had ebbed. What did they gain from their war? Not only did they not still their hunger, but they were severely injured and lay defeated.
Whenever I have a desire for the material, this incident comes to mind. It has a strong message for man. In any competition, even the winner is wounded, ill, tired, and hungry. Additionally, victory is never complete. Materialistic cravings will never be sated. On the contrary, as time goes on, they will simply increase.
Conversely, one who does not desire material things and understands that even what he has does not belong to him will certainly not worry if he is lacking money. He will be satisfied with what he has, which is enough to keep himself alive. On the contrary, he will concentrate on how he can help out his fellow man.
Our Sages state that all of man’s sustenance is allotted to him (Beitzah 16). They do not say “all of man’s money.” Even if inflation causes prices to soar, the sustenance which has been designated to a person will remain the same. He will get what was allocated to him (Heard from Rabbi Ezra Attia).
