Lucrative Investments
I know of a wealthy man who owns tremendous amounts of property. He has bank accounts in Switzerland and other countries. I do not know if he himself is aware of how wealthy he is. He behaves like a pauper in every respect. He dresses in regular clothes and lives in an apartment building, like ordinary people. He eats very simply.
One day, my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him, “Why do you live like a poor man? You are already seventy. You never married and will not have children to continue your name. You know that the banks will take your money after you’re gone. Why do you live so eccentrically? Don’t you at least want to enjoy your hard-earned money, before the government seizes it for themselves?”
The man was quiet, so I went on. I suggested that at least he should fund the writing of a Sefer Torah, which would stand in his merit.
“How much does a Sefer Torah cost?” he inquired.
“Two hundred thousand francs,” I replied.
“Two hundred thousand francs? That’s an astronomical sum!” He had no intention of parting with such a considerable amount of money. I personally did not think it would make a dent in his bank account.
“Isn’t it a shame that the banks will have a field day with your millions after you die? Don’t you see that although you are loaded, you are really very poor, because you are not concerned with funding yourself for your future!
“My dear friend, you are causing yourself the greatest damage possible. None of your wealth will accompany you when you come to the World Above. You will then realize how much good you could have accomplished with your vast assets. But then it will be too late.”
