Challenge of Being Wealthy
The Alshich makes an interesting comment about wealth and poverty. He wrote that it is a much greater challenge to be wealthy rather than to be poor.
The Prophet Yechezkel prophesied about the time when Jews returned to the land in the future. He spoke of all of the wonderful things that will happen at that time. There will be peace and a strong connection to Hashem. And one of the greatest benefits is that there will no longer be חרפת הרעב, the shameful mess of hunger.
It is clear that the poor man is constantly humiliated by his horrible plight. His children go to sleep hungry, and he is unable to give his wife her basic needs. He is anything but arrogant. He hopes for better days.
The wealthy man is challenged with remembering to remain humble at all times. He is to be aware that what he achieved was a gift, and nothing that he has is deserved.
He has a responsibility to share his wealth with those who are less fortunate than him. He is to give generously and find a way to say words of encouragement to the poor people that come to his door.
Rabbi Wein once mentioned that when he lived in Moncey, New York, he was visited by no less than twenty different people asking for charity on a Sunday afternoon. He said that the twenty-first knock on the door, posed a great challenge for him. He was losing his patience after being interrupted so many times. This was a test for him to remain calm, kind, and generous.
King Solomon once said that he wished not too be too wealthy or too poor because of the challenges posed by each one. He preferred to be somewhere in the middle.
Pirkei Avot tells us that the wealthy man is the one who is happy with his lot in life. We are to be aware of these tests that come our way and create for ourselves reminders of how fortunate we are. We must never look down on those less fortunate than we are.
A very wealthy friend of mine often repeats the same story of how he began and struggled a great deal. This helps him stay humble and fulfill the difficult challenge of handling his wealth. Being aware of human nature and its pitfalls, and studying the teachings of our sages, will help us meet the challenge of wealth as well as other challenges that come our way.