A person that is known to be a "Bal Bitachon" is trusted by all as they know he would never set out to harm them. They know him to be honest, calm, trustworthy with their loved ones and money.  He in return does not fear them as he knows they can never harm him since everything is in the hands of H'shem.  He also does not look for, or rely on their help as he know that too is in the hands of H'shem.  Those that do not trust H'shem have no real friends since they are in constant competition and jealous of everyone around them.  He has convinced himself that if they have something it was at his expense and he in constant competition with them. He also believes they could actually grant him things.  Should anything bad happen to himself, property or family he curses and blames everyone around him and he feels they were the cause.  This type of individual will be despised in this world and in the next. pg 453

A person that trusts in H'shem will make sure that the occupation he chooses is in line with his religious observance and dedication to H'shem.  He will make sure it allows him to serve the Creator freely.  One who trust in the source of the income does not trust in H'shem .  He will put serving that source before anything, as Rabbenu Bachya teaches, "..Will engage in those that are admirable as well as those that are reprehensible, giving no thought to his final condition," pg451, 453

Those that trust in H'shem, if He has blessed them with extra funds, does not spend it frivolously, he instead spends it on what would please the Creator.  Those that do not trust in H'shem save their money out of fear and a constant need for more and more.  Rabbenu Bachya teaches us that this type of behavior will fail. "Before he knows it he louses his money and is left destitute." pg 451

When someone who trust in H'shem has a source of income, he does not believe in the power of that income to be his source of sustenance as he knows it is only dependent on H'shem.  He recognizes that his "Job" is to make a Kiduch H'shem in the world and to influence others to trust in him and serve him.  When he is at work he knows his salary is paid by GD and he has to do His work.  He does not become attached to the "means" that is paying his salary.  One who does not trust H'shem goes out to work to "make a living" If it works for him he congratulates himself and believes the deals, customers, sales are paying his salary. If it does not work he runs, abandoning his position and turns to another "job" for his sustenance. pg 451

When someone who trust in H'shem is challenged he remains completely calm and his trust is not shaken.  He knows that the situation was sent by H'shem FOR HIS GOOD.  One who does not trust in H'shem is in a constant state of  fear, anxiety, worry , depression.  This feeling follows him in "good times and in bad" pg449

Rabbenu Bachya will now teach us seven differences of  the way one who relies on H'shem in earning a livelihood acts as apposed to one who does not.  The first difference is that one who trusts in H'shem "accepts the judgment", how much H'shem sends him, " under all conditions, and thanks HIm for the good as well as for bad."  One who does not trust in H'shem when he is successful he credits himself and when he has hardships he gets angry and blames GD. pg 447/449  I think we can all relate to this idea in our own lives.  When we give a gift they love you, when you don't they complain.  Although it may be a difficult TEST, financial struggles at times are not because H'shem does not have the means or desire to provide for you.  He is testing your love, trust, honesty and gratitude in difficult times.  When you prove loyal in your heart He no longer has to test you in such struggles. So hang on "This is only a test"

Rabbenu Bachya is teaching us that we must have the mindset of being willing to sacrifice "it all " for the will of H'shem.   Accepting GD's will over our own even if it is uncomfortable bonds our love and trust in Him as nothing else can.  Such a person, he says, is worthy of receiving all of H'shem's grace in the World to Come. pg447

Who is considered to be the righteous and deserving of H'shem's reward in this world and the world to come?  Rabbenu Bachya teaches us it is those that "Guide GD's servants to His service" They are also the ones that  "Exhibit patients and endurance in times of trial and tribulation"  Anything other then serving H'shem and following his commandments becomes of little importance. pg 447

How should one go about trusting in reward in the world to come.  Rabbenu Bachya teaches that it is imperative to "Do good deeds" such as Replacing the "loves" of this world with the "love of the Creator" Devotion to Him Delighting in Him "Felling spirituality lonely in this world and among it's inhabitants, and adopt the practices of the prophets and pietists".  He should then have full trust in H'shem that He will  shower him and others with his kindness in gaining their portion in the World To Come.  One who just relies on H'shem's kindness and does not put an effort into doing good deeds that will gain him his portion is called by Rabbenu, ignorant and foolish. 

Rabbenu Bachya writes of the Pious who would say, that if the world worked on strict justice  and one could count how much we owe H'shem for all  the good he has bestowed upon us, no man would ever gain his portion in the World To Come on account of his good deeds.  We are taught that  H'shem's kindness intervenes and through his good grace we are able to take our good deeds to Olam Haba, but we should not rely on our good deeds alone.  pg 445

Good conduct does not insure reward. The key is showing GRATITUDE for all the good grace H'shem bestows upon us at every moment. This gratitude  should not be used as a tool to try and insure his reward.  As Rabbenu Bachya teaches "He should trust in GD after doing his best to repay the debt of gratitude he owes the Creator for His kindness toward him.  As it says in Perke Avot (1:3) "Be not like the servant who serve the master on condition of receiving a reward, but be like the servants who serve the master NOT on condition of receiving a reward, and let the fear of Heaven be upon you.  pg445  

It is essential that a person have trust that if H'shem said he will give reward in this world and in the next as well as punishment, one must believe that this is what the Creator will do.   As  it says  "Trusting in GD in this matter is essential to perfect faith."   pg443

Rabbanu Bachya brings another reason why we were not given an explicit description of the world to come.  He says that when the Navi would talk to the people he would talk to them about their here and now. " The way of offering inducement or deterrence- it must suit the time and the place".  We learn that the entire purpose of Olam Habba and it's reward, is to cling  to the Shechina, the Divine presence and His light.  This can only be done by someone who "finds favor before GD" To conclude the entire effort of earning a reward  must be that we find favor in the eye's of GD so that we can cling to him and his eternal light in the world to come. pg. 443

Rabbenu Bachya writes that H'shem has "Promised his people that for visible service there will be visible immediate reward in this world" this holds true  as well for "visible transgressions in this world, there will be visible, immediate punishment".  This Rabbenu Bachya says  is because as a people and a community we are only responsible for the external act and not what is hidden.  The hidden "service and transgressions of the heart" is left up to H'shem  alone to give reward or punishment  and that will be in the world to come. pg 441/443 We must internalize how important it is to make a public Kidush H'shem in this world and what a grave danger it would be to make a public Chillul H'shem.  On the same token we may never judge someone as we have no idea what is going on in their hearts.

There are two types of service and good deeds. One are those that are visible, tzedka, returning a lost item. The second are those that are not seen, loving H'shem, thoughts, not hating someone in your heart.  H'shem says that for visible deeds he will give visible rewards and for hidden deeds he will give reward in the world to come.  As it says:  " For the fulfillment of observable duties, the Creator bestows a visible reward in this world . For the fulfillment of inner, hidden duties, He gives a hidden reward." pg 441

To further explain why a person can not gain reward in the world to come on his deeds alone is that we have no way of repaying H'shem for all the boundless generosity He does for us every moment of every day.  As Rabbenu Bachya so elegantly writes"Even if a human being's good deed were as numerous as the sands of the sea, they still would not be equal to even one of the favors bestowed upon him by the Creator...all the more so if he committed a sin."  If H'shem would ask for any repayment for all He does for us we would be left with absolutely no reward for our good deeds. And so anything that H'shem does for us is not on account of our good deeds it is by GD's grace alone. This is not so for punishment.  Each punishment on this world and the world to come is exacting and deserved according to the sin, and this too "GD's grace overcomes it" pg 439/441

Rabbenu Bachya brings another reason in our serious of understanding why H'shem did not give us specifics on reward and punishment in the world to come. It is because we don't get reward "on strengths of  good deeds alone". He must also "enlighten others in the service of the Creator.. and teach them proper conduct" When a person has succeeded in enlightening others as well as doing his own good deeds, and having complete Emuna and Bitachon in H'shem and the way he runs the world it is only then that he is eligible for his reward in the world to come.  pg 439 How appropriate that this idea comes out today on Erev Yom Rivee of Chanuka.  We must take to heart the importance of not only getting our own inspiration and strength in Emuna amd Bitachon but to pass it on to those that are so desperate and needy for it in this dark Galus.

The aim of  serving the Boreh Olam, Rabbenu Bachya teaches is, "For His sake alone,and they would comply with (His service) to draw near to Him."  As we learned in the last paragraph, the same disciplinary actions that Rabbenu Bachya advises for father to child is what H'shem dictates to his people.  "Promise of immediate rewards and threats of immediate punishment"  This training would correct their understanding of reward and punishment in the world to come and bring them to desire to serve H'shem correctly as mentioned above. pg 439

Rabbenu Bachya in his brilliance teaches us, that if a father tries to teach his son by saying "Endure the strain of discipline and instruction, so that through them you may ascend to esteemed levels"  The child will not be able to "bear it and will not listen....because he does not understand it"  If the father though would promise him things that bring him immediate pleasure and threaten him with immediate discomfort for rebelling "while reassuring him with conviction tangible arguments and clear and truthful evidence it will be easier for him to endure the strain of discipline and bear with its difficulty".  As the child grows and reaches adolescence with a mature mind he will then understand the "intended goal and direct himself toward it, and the pleasure he was seeking at the beginning will appear unimportant to him. Such an upbringing proves to be a great kindness towards him" If I may give my own opinion I believe this system is the corr...

Rabbenu Bachya is continuing to explain the reasons we were not taught what would be the reward and punishment for our deeds in the world to come. One explanation given is that the tradition was   taught. The teachings were given over orally from the Navi to the people as tradition and was not written down.  Another explanation is that the people were in a state of "ignorance and deficiency".  H'shem was guiding them  in baby steps, "As a sensitive father would act towards his little child when he wants to train him gently step by step" pg 437