Enrich Inner Life To Shore Up True Wealth
Ezekiel Isaac Malekar
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In Judaism, life is valued above almost all else. The Talmud notes that all people are descended from a single person, thus taking a single life is like destroying the entire world, and saving a single life is like saving the entire world.Each of us live two separate lives outer and inner. It is not enough to have a fancy outer life, with a large house, showy car and a fat bank balance. You need to also have a rich inner life, filled with meaning and purpose. We do come across people who have nothing much in material terms, but who are very happy because they enjoy a rich spiritual inner life. They have healthy relationships; and they are known for their integrity .
All religions teach us that love, dedication, devotion, compassion, care and concern are important. Religion also teaches us that ultimately material success is fleeting, for worldly goods come and go. On the other hand, true values stay on, helping us to build lasting relationships with dignity and self-respect.
Jewish festivals like the New Year and Day of Atonement also speak about inner affluence. We must live with the knowledge that we are accountable to God.In order to have a rich inner life, we must know that we are needed. Take marriage, for instance. Both parties must acknowledge that they need each other. If only one party feels that she is needed, the marriage will not work. A man is known by three names. The first is the name which his parents gave him, the second is the name by which others call him, and the third is the name by which he is identified in the true record of his life from birth to death.
A certain man had three friends, two of whom he loved dearly , the other he but lightly esteemed. It happened one day that the king commanded the man's presence at court, at which he was greatly alarmed, and wished to procure an advocate. According ly, he went to the two friends, whom he loved. When he made his request, one flatly refused to accompany him. The other offered to go with him as far as the king's palace gate.
In desperation, he called upon the third friend, whom he least esteemed, and that third friend not only went willingly with him but also defended him before the king so that he was acquitted.
In like manner, every man has three friends when death summons him to appear before the Creator. His friend, whom he loved most, namely his money , cannot go with him a single step. His second, relations and neighbours and friends, can only accompany him up to the cremation or burial ground, but cannot defend him before the judge, while the third friend, whom he does not highly esteem, his good deeds goes with him before the Creator and obtains acquittal.
Let us hope and pray that we will always realise that it is our inner life which makes us what we are, even if we have a lot of material wealth at our disposal. We must nurture integrity and family relationships so as to ensure a rich spiritual inner life, both for ourselves and for those around us.
All religions teach us that love, dedication, devotion, compassion, care and concern are important. Religion also teaches us that ultimately material success is fleeting, for worldly goods come and go. On the other hand, true values stay on, helping us to build lasting relationships with dignity and self-respect.
Jewish festivals like the New Year and Day of Atonement also speak about inner affluence. We must live with the knowledge that we are accountable to God.In order to have a rich inner life, we must know that we are needed. Take marriage, for instance. Both parties must acknowledge that they need each other. If only one party feels that she is needed, the marriage will not work. A man is known by three names. The first is the name which his parents gave him, the second is the name by which others call him, and the third is the name by which he is identified in the true record of his life from birth to death.
A certain man had three friends, two of whom he loved dearly , the other he but lightly esteemed. It happened one day that the king commanded the man's presence at court, at which he was greatly alarmed, and wished to procure an advocate. According ly, he went to the two friends, whom he loved. When he made his request, one flatly refused to accompany him. The other offered to go with him as far as the king's palace gate.
In desperation, he called upon the third friend, whom he least esteemed, and that third friend not only went willingly with him but also defended him before the king so that he was acquitted.
In like manner, every man has three friends when death summons him to appear before the Creator. His friend, whom he loved most, namely his money , cannot go with him a single step. His second, relations and neighbours and friends, can only accompany him up to the cremation or burial ground, but cannot defend him before the judge, while the third friend, whom he does not highly esteem, his good deeds goes with him before the Creator and obtains acquittal.
Let us hope and pray that we will always realise that it is our inner life which makes us what we are, even if we have a lot of material wealth at our disposal. We must nurture integrity and family relationships so as to ensure a rich spiritual inner life, both for ourselves and for those around us.
