Making Hashem Rich | Rabbi Shimon Gruen

Everyone has those things in their day, in their life, that they like to do and the things they don't like to do, their obligations, demands, commitments. And most people push up to the top of the To-Do list the things that they like to do, they like to be busy with, and the other things they somehow procrastinate or push off. That's how we are. When it comes to Avodas Hashem, as well, most people have the way they want to be serving Hashem. I want to learn, I want to daven, I want to do Chesed, I want to help people. There are things that I like doing. It makes me feel good. It makes me feel like Hashem probably is very happy with me now, because I decided that this is what He wants from me. Then there are those things in our Avodas Hashem that I don't like those things. I don't like to be busy with them. The Gemara says, Yetzer Hara is like a fly, like a mosquito, like he's just annoying. People don't want to be busy with the Yetzer Hara. People don't want to be busy with Nisyonos, things that are pulling them and tempting them and overcoming them. It’s just a struggle. It's so important to understand that this is coming from a very mistaken mindset. The Tanya says that sometimes a person is struggling with certain Nisyonos in Avodas Hashem. Why do these things tempt me? Why do I want to look over there? Why do I want to see this? Why am I busy thinking about things I shouldn't? I don't like this. And the Tanya says it's coming from two mistakes. One mistake is Who do you think you are? It's like a big surgeon coming in to a procedure and then he sees it’s something so small they could have called a small doctor and he's wondering, like: Why did you call me for this, right? Or a big mechanic, who's known to be able to fix the biggest problems, and somebody comes with a little oil change. And sometimes that's how we are in Avodas Hashem. Like, why are we busy with these things? I don't like this Avoda. I don't like being busy with Shmiras Einayim. I want to learn for ten hours in a row. I want to do major things. And sometimes that mistake is coming from Who do you think you are? Why do you think you’re so great that you shouldn't be busy with this? But there's a bigger mistake, says the Tanya. It's assuming that the Hisgabrus on Shmiras Einayim, looking away, turning your head, trying harder the next day, is that small? Who decided it's small? Amazing story from the Chozeh of Lublin. One Motzei Rosh Hashanah, the Talmidim were gathered around the Chozeh of Lublin with his famous Ruach Hakodesh, and he said: You know, I want to share with you all what Yankel asked Hashem for, this Rosh Hashanah. He says: Yankel told Hashem by davening, Hashem, I work so hard. He was a water carrier. He did a lot of very hard work. And every day he would make those two Rhenish, you know, those two little coins that he would make. He'd come home exhausted, and Yankel was an ehrlicher Yid, so he went to Shul, to daven, to learn. And every day, the same thing happened. He fell asleep on top of the Gemara. He was just so drained, he couldn't do it, but he needed the two Rhenish. Six days a week, 12 Rhenish. He told the Aibishter: You know what, Hashem? I’m willing to be Mevater on two Rhenish. It’s not going to be easy for me, for my family, but give me the 10 Rhenish at the beginning of the week, so I don’t have to work so hard, and I'll come to Shul and I'll daven and I'll learn and I'll be a mensch. And Yankel was sitting there, shocked, hearing the Rebbe say exactly what he was davening for this Rosh Hashanah. And the Chozeh of Lublin continues, he says, You know what they answered in Heaven? You know what they said, Yankel, to your Tefillah? In Heaven, there was laughter. They all laughed. Hashem says, I have all the money. You're going to save me two Rhenish? I don't need your two Rhenish. I need you to come at night, when you're exhausted and drained, and sit over that Gemara and fall asleep. That's amazing. That's amaz... You do it day after day, that's what I need from you. When it comes to Avodas Hashem, we think if I'd give a lot of money for Tzedaka, if I do a lot of Hachnasas Orchim, if I learn a lot of hours, then I'll make Hashem rich. You’re not making Hashem rich. Hashem is rich when you do what He wants from you and when you're doing your Tachlis. And if Hashem keeps on sending you Nisyonos in Shmiras Einayim, or anything for that matter, that constant annoyance of the Yetzer Hara, that's what's making Hashem happy. Keep on doing it, don't give up and feel good that you're doing your Tachlis.