I was reading either Birnbaum’s Mishne Torah or Ganzfried-Goldin’s Kitzur Shulchan Arukh and I remember seeing something to the effect that we shouldn’t worry about money. I’d like to know if there is-or isn’t- such a law, what is it, and where can it be found. Thank You.
I think I would describe it as an attitude, a trait of good character, rather than a law. It says in Pirkei Avos (4(1)), “Who is rich – someone who is happy (satisfied) with what he has.” If someone has the attitude that he is responsible for all that happens to him, and that therefore he has to scratch for and grab whatever he can get his hands on, he is quite likely to be dissatisfied with whatever he gets. “If a person has a hundred, he will be looking for two hundred.” (Koheles Rabba 1(34)) “A person’s appetites can never really be satisfied.” (Koheles 6(7)) He will always be looking toward what he doesn’t have, never enjoying what he does.
On the other hand, if one understands that everything comes to us from G-d, that our resources for the year have been set on Rosh haShana, and that it is not our efforts but G-d’s kindness to us that really determines how much we have – well then, it is really illogical to spend one’s life in a frantic chase after wealth. Of course, one is required to make proper effort. Still, a person can then accept happily whatever he ends up with, and is really more prepared to enjoy it too.
“The worker’s sleep is sweet; a little or a lot, but he eats! But the satiety of the rich man does not allow him sleep.” (Koheles 5(11))
The Rambam says a very remarkable thing in Moreh Nebuchim, the Guide of the Perplexed which has fascinated me for years. He says that if a person will be satisfied with what he actually needs, and not worry about things that are not essential, his livelihood can be acquired with a trivial, a minimal amount of effort. He says it’s the simplest thing in the world. I’ve never really assimilated this properly; I feel as though he lived in a different world than the one I inhabit! Still, I expect that he’s right. Because of the sin of Adam we have to work for our livings. Still, Hashem made us a very good world. If we trust in what he sends us, we can live a tranquil and happy life and avoid so much self-inflicted pain.
Best wishes,
Michoel Reach