“Keep vanity and falsehood far from me; give me neither poverty nor wealth, but allot me my daily bread” (Mishlei 30:8)
Metzudat David expounds: Sustain me with a designated amount, which is enough to keep me alive and no more.
“Once more I saw under the sun that the race is not won by the swift, nor the battle by the strong, nor does bread come to the wise, riches to the intelligent, nor favor to the learned; but time and death will happen to them all” (Kohelet 9:11)
“Bread is made for laughter, and wine brings joy to life, and money answers everything” (ibid. 10:19)
Rashi expounds: If there is no money, there is no food. Therefore, one should not be lazy concerning work, so that he can earn a livelihood.
The Gemara states (Eiruvin 13b): Whoever forces time is forced by time. Whoever allows time to take its toll will eventually be rewarded by seeing success.
Rashi says one who forces time is a person who toils excessively to become rich and powerful. He sees that he is unsuccessful, yet he goes to great lengths to make his fortune. On the other hand, one who allows time to take its toll will be rewarded.
Rabbi Meir says: One should always teach his son a clean and easy craft, and pray to the One Who possess wealth and property, that he receive his due livelihood, according to his merits.
Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar says: Did you ever see an animal or bird working for a living? They were created to serve me, and I was created to serve my Maker. There is no rule that I will earn my livelihood easily. I have corrupted my ways and thereby obstructed my livelihood (Yerushalmi, Kiddushin 4:4).
The Gemara states (Bava Batra 10a) that just as one’s livelihood is fixed from one Rosh Hashanah until the next, so too, is what he will lack.
The Gemara relates (Yoma 76a): Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s disciples asked him, “Why didn’t the manna fall for our people only once a year?” He answered with a parable: A king had an only son. He gave him money only once a year. That was the only time he would hear from this son. What did he do? He decided to allot him a portion of food each day. This way, he saw his son on a daily basis.
During the days of the Wilderness, whoever had a large family was worried if the next day would bring enough food for everyone. What happened? Everyone prayed fervently to their Heavenly Father that He allot them their daily bread.
The Zohar expounds: Although someone has food in his pantry, he still must pray to Hashem to grant him his sustenance. For this reason, one should not cook in advance. He should always feel that he is dependent upon Hashem’s kindliness for his food (Shut, Mishneh Halachot 10:34).
