Rabunu Bachya again is stressing the importance of one's intentions.  In this case he is teaching us that even if one does the same act of  supporting his family, friends, those dependent on him physically and emotionally,  for the wrong reasons such as honor or to be paid back he will fail and "labor in vain" and he will lose his reward in the next world.  If his intentions are  " solely out of  the service to GD, GD will help them (the beneficiaries) to repay him in this world, will put his praises into their mouths and will increase his stature in their eyes and he will attain great reward in the world to Come". pg 423

His obligation to his family, friends and even enemies is "Not because he hopes to be repaid by them, NOT to make them indebted to him, not because he loves to be honored and praised by them not to have authority over them, but to fulfill the commandment of the Creator and to keep his covenant and his ordinance in their regard." pg 423 Rabbenu Bachya is stressing the point that it is not just a "good idea" to take care of those around him. It is his obligation dictated to him by GD.  Man was not made to live alone, nor was he made to take care if himself while those around him that depend on him would be made to fend for themselves.  GD allocates funds to him so that he can provide for them,   The more his does happily, the more H'shem will send him.

Rabbenu Bachya will now discuss the obligation one has to his wife, children family, friends and the like.  "If one who trust in H'shem has a wife and relatives, friends and enemies, he should rely on GD to save him from (being overburdened by) them, and endeavors to meet his duties towards them, to fulfill their wishes and to be wholehearted with them, He should avoid causing them any harm, and promote their interests. He should be their steadfast supporter in all their concerns, and advise them of what is advantageous to them in religious and secular matters."  So when our kids  needed another book for school, another pair of shoes, or money for a school trip. We should have complete Emunah and Bitachon that this is our Tafkid and that H'shem is and will continue to provide for us so that we can provide for them. pg 423

Rabbenu Bachya  gives advice to those that are left "alone" in this world.  Those that are without family or friends those that find themselves alone at time be it in joy or in times of hardship. "Whenever he feels lonely he should find companionship in GD in his condition as a stranger, and place his trust in Him"  He continues by describing how the Neshama is a stranger in this world longing to return.  At  some point we will all be "strangers" and no one will be able to help us other than the Boreh Olam.  He also continues with a bit of positive thinking in that he gives advice to those that are alone, to appreciate the lack of burden and the ability to rise in spirituality because he does not have obligations.  He brings examples of  those that would choose to leave and go to the mountains to be able to attain the "loneliness" to connect to GD. pg 419/ 421

What every way and from whatever direction his income comes he should say to himself.  "The One Who created me in a certain image, exclusion of the other forms, as this is best for me, He has chosen that my livelihood come to me in the ways most suitable for me." H'shem chose our form, abilities, parents, origin  "He has chosen that I earn a living in a certain land and through a certain individual whom He has made a means to my livelihood for my benefit." There is no Hefker.  Everything is perfectly designed for your benefit.  In the right place the right time and through the right person. pg 417/419

It goes with out saying that one that trusts in H'shem when times are hard, very hard, and does not lose faith that H'shem is in charge and is continuously taking care of him, "he will be rewarded"  The act of trust is compared to Klal Yisroel in the Midbar when they waited every day for the Man. This is why saying Parshat Haman everyday is a promised Segulah for  Parnasa.  Knowing that H'shem will provide for you what you need everyday with out worry, not if it will come just knowing that it will, is a tremendous act of Emunah and Bitachon.   H'shem NEVER forgets any little gesture of trust that we do which is why it says in Yermiyahu 2:2 "How you followed Me in the wilderness in a land not sown"  pg 417

Rabbenu Bachya is not giving us a way to deal with suffering.  What he is saying is that when times are hard as when times are good both are decreed and specifically designed for you as you need it.  Jim Rohn describes financial hardships as the seasons.  There will be a "Fall" and a "Winter" but only after a winter can there be a "Spring" that will bring you into "Summer."   A fall in any area of life is just as much Rachamim as a high because you can only get a high and stay there after you have risen from the fall and learnt what it needed to teach you.  "When income is limited.. not even the basic minimum,...He should reflect...and say  He provided me at the start of my life....according to my needs.. enough to sustain me, until replacing it with something better, and the limited supply DID NOT HARM ME In the same way I will suffer no harm on account of the limited.. income. pg417

Rabbenu Bachya is now going to spell out for us exactly how we are obligated to trust in H'shem when it comes to our livelihood.  If Chas Vishalom at times it is held from him he must say to himself and internalize with complete trust." The One Who brought me into this world at a certain time and at a certain moment, neither earlier nor later, He is the One Who withholds from me my livelihood until a certain moment and day, knowing what is best for me." pg 417  Have any of you said to GD "Really I totally disagree.  I would  much rather have been born in this year, this day, this month and at this time".  No, you haven't?.  I gather it is because you have the basic amount of Emunah to know that when you were born was when you needed to be born exactly at the right time, right place right moment, not earlier and not later.  When we recognize this basic trust we must understand that GD's infinite wisdom knows what is best for us in every situation and...

Some have attained their wealth through business ventures others through inheritance.  What happens naturally is that both think the Cause ie: good business sense, deals or inheritance has made them their money.  " He is much like the man in the desert suffering from thirst, who upon finding brackish water ( that had gathered) in a pit greatly rejoiced and quenched his thirst with it.  When he continues a little further, he found a spring bubbling with fresh sweet water and regretted that he had drunk of the blackish water and slacked his thirst with it."  The same with wealth one thinks that the way he has found it is the only way, The truth is that, H'shem is the real source and he has endless ways. pg 415/417

As we discussed in the previous post   If someone honors H'shem and not the "wealthy or connected", then in turn H'shem honors him and people will be drawn to honor  him in the world.   If someone though remains ignorant in realizing who is running the world H'shem in turn keeps them ignorant namely in the understanding how to get what they desire.  Their days are spent stressed, putting in needless effort chasing what they want.  So busy they are disconnected from what is important in life namely serving the Creator.  For if they honored the Creator and no one else they would find what they desired would come to them easily and they would have more time to serve Him and gain reward at the same time. pg415

If the "wealthy " would understand that it is not with in their power to give or to hold back only as GD decreed no one would trust in anything or anyone other than H'shem.  In turn people would then not look at money as something to honor, instead  the person's "outstanding qualities for which he is worthy of the Creator's honor."  As it says in Shmuel "For those that honor me I will honor."

There are people who's entire purpose of earning money is to gain "love of honor and to make a great name for themselves".  In turn no matter how much they have it is never enough.   They are never satisfied and are completely "ignorant of what will bring real honor in this world and the next".  Their mistake is due to  the honor they see the "wealthy" get from the "commoners" in the hopes their wealth  will  rub off. pg 413

The "intelligent individual" takes positive steps on all three accounts according to his "religious and secular interests"   He treats his income and possessions as such:  "His trust in what is in GD's hands is stronger than his trust in what he controls himself"  He understands that GD has control over every area of his life.  He understands that some of his earnings are meant for him and some earnings were given to him to  pass along to others .  He does not try to hold onto  money that is not his instead of paying his debts and people he has hired because he understands he only received that money to pass along to them as a Shaliach from H'shem.  In this way he " attains honor in this world and a fitting reward in the World-To- Come. pg413

The third mistake that is made by the "ignorant" is when he must pay the salaries or money owed to someone for their services he "reminds them of his favor toward them._ as if it were he that was providing them with their income.... and expects them to thank him"  Instead of feeling gratitude towards GD for putting him in the position of having workers and employees he becomes " arrogant ..and haughty and feels no gratitude to GD for this (privilege)  He believes that if he would not pay them the money would stay by him and if not for him they would have no income.  This man "labors in vain in this world and forfeits his reward in the World-to-come.  pg413

The second error of the "ignorant one" is that everything he earned he believes is his and he has a right to enjoy it. He is not aware that there are "three types of income" Ones own needs, that GD has promised to every living creature on the face of the earth. Second, the needs of others such as his wife and children, hired help.  This is NOT PROMISED to everyone only a "select few under certain conditions." This is allotted as decreed by GD  according to the "Creators's ways of kindness and justice. Third is earnings to be "held as wealth" This is money that is extra "of no use to the owner" this is money he puts away as inheritance, invest, donates or even loses.    So we see that someone that earns money must understand it was given to him by H'shem for a purpose and one should not feel haughty and powerful as Rabbenu Bachya says:" It may turn out that he has accumulated it for his successor-his widow's ...

There are a number of ways, good and bad to go about earning money.  The "ignorant one" as Rabbenu Bachya calls him  makes three mistakes.  The First Error:   He earns his money through "shameful and wicked methods"  If he would have been honest and clean about earning the money, he would not only have succeeded in making the  money that H'shem had assigned to him he would have reached his "goals  and aspirations succeeded in his religious as well as secular affairs and what the Creator had decreed for him would not be diminished in the least."  In other words  a thief can steal only what H'shem has agreed is his  to begin with.  The fact that he obtained it by stealing instead of honestly the money will ruin him instead of give him pleasure and a life of happiness.  The same is true for someone who chooses to  act honestly although around him they are dealing in underhandedness and dishonesty.  He will ear...

The tests H'shem sends us are not always in the form of trials and tribulations.  Very often they are in the form of gifts, abundance, power,...For instance at some point in time, Rav Yigal Cohen says, every person gets a gift, reimbursement or bonus of money.  When you did, what did you do with that money?  Did you spend it or give a larger amount of Tzedaka from it.  Did you pay people you owed or did you buy something you always wanted.    Rabbenu Bachya writes: " Sometimes the Creator orders it that many people obtain their livelihood through one person, in order to test that individual whether he will serve GD or rebel against Him:  (for) such a position presents him with one of the most powerful sources of trial and temptation a person could face." pg 411

It is easy to trust, be happy, in good spirits and motivated to live life when things are going well.  But what happens when there is a bump in the road.  What happens when someone owes you money and it does not come.  I actually have this going on in my life at this moment.  Someone owes me personally thousands of dollars, and I have reminded them  nicely by message a few times over the past year that the money is due, not only to me but to those I commissioned for the job.  I must tell you it takes every bit of Bitachon and power that I have to believe that this person is not holding the money back from me but it is H'shem,  If I was meant to get this money it would come to me whether he pays me or does not.   Of course I must do the Mitzvah of "Shmor Et Nafshosechem" and will not do business with him again.    My job is not to worry about him or spend any time at ALL thinking about him or the money.  If I earned it it will c...

"The proper way to rely on H'shem" (in worldly matters such as business and luxury) brings down Rabbenu Bachya" is to engage in whatever occupation the Creator has prepared for him" How much? " To the extent necessary for his maintenance and sustenance to attain what suffices him in this world." What if he wants more then his job can provide for him.? " If  the Creator ordains more for him it will com to him without trouble or effort provided HE RELIES ON GD AND DOES NOT OVERLY PURSUE (NATURAL) MEANS OR RELY ON THEM IN HI HEART. pg 409 Having trust in H'shem is not idealistic, not having trust in H'shem could be the very reason you are not getting what you want.