The son of a wealthy merchant decided that he would like to enter the business world to earn his own way. He went to his father who gave him a large amount of money. The young man then traveled to the market in the big city where he stayed at an inn.
Once settled, the young man made his way to the home of a relative who lived in the city. He told his relative about his journey to the city to purchase merchandise. He hoped to resell the merchandise for a profit. The young man asked his relative to help him, as he was completely unfamiliar with the city.
The relative quickly informed many merchants that he knew that a wealthy young man had arrived in the city and wished to purchase merchandise.
The merchants wasted little time and made their way to the inn and knocked on the young man’s door. The merchants presented the young man a vast selection of goods. He bought as much as he could.
When the young man realized that he had only enough money remaining to pay for his traveling expenses to return home, he decided that it was time to return home. He went to say goodbye to his relative. His relative asked, “Did you have a pleasant stay in the city?”
The young man answered, “Honestly, I did not have so much as a free moment to enjoy myself to visit the sights or even to stroll the streets. From the time I arrived here until now, I have been conducting business with the merchants and peddlers. I did not have any time to see the city”
The relative, with a slight smile replied “I want you to know that it was I who caused you to be as busy as you were. I did so because I was worried about you and your money. I know you quite well, and the ways of young people. I am well aware that if you began to stroll about the city streets, the temptations would have been great. It would not have been long before you had spent all your money on meaningless items and entertainment. I therefore made sure that the merchants would not allow you to rest for even a moment…This way, you were able to conduct business which was your intention in the first place.”
The Holy One, blessed be He sent man to this world in order for him to learn the Holy Word, live by its direction and to perform good deeds. The forces of evil, every day tries to lead man astray and distract him. It attempts to lure man into wasting his time with foolish vanities and trivialities.
This is the reason the Holy One, blessed be He gave man such an abundance of mitzvos – good deeds. Because, before he has completed the performance of one mitzvah, it is already time to perform another.
This is as the prophet taught so long ago, “The L-rd was pleased, for the sake of his righteousness, to magnify His teaching be made great and glorious.” (Isaiah 42:21)
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)