Ep 807 Commodities More Valuable Than Money
Do you know how many billions of things have to go right for you not to be in pain?
Rabbi Daniel Glatstein
7 Commodities More Valuable Than Money
We want to give our kids everything, everything but parents.
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Quotes
“Is there anything in this world less valuable than money? ... whatever we're exchanging for money, we are deeming is more important than money.”
“What would you like more, your firstborn kid or the five silver coins?”
“People regret, oh, I wish I could have spent more time with my children, not I wish I could have spent more time in the office.”
“A million dollars, how long do you have the million dollars for? ... until however long your teeth stay in your mouth.”
“Money is valuable because you could use it to buy the most important commodity, time. (teaching of the founder of the Mussar movement)”
Takeaways
- 1 Judaism values money. Rabbeinu Tam counted his money before learning to be in a good mood. Money can bring peace of mind that helps you serve God.
- 2 Every purchase is a trade: you are saying the thing you buy is worth more than the money. Ask the "pidyon haben question" - what do I really want more?
- 3 Commodity 1 - time with your children. Great rabbis (the Steipler, the Brisker Rav) spent years learning with their kids. Homework time is relationship time.
- 4 Commodity 2 - Torah study. The 20% cap on giving tzedakah does not limit spending on your own learning, because it is eternal (Chofetz Chaim).
- 5 Money lasts a lifetime at most. Mitzvos and Torah pay an eternal return.
- 6 Commodity 3 - good friends. We absorb the attitudes of people around us (Rambam). You can "buy" friends with honor and compliments, not just money.
- 7 Commodity 4 - time. Seconds are the building blocks of life; don't waste them.
- 8 Commodity 5 - life itself. Shabbos is broken even to extend life by moments, because one moment of teshuvah can outweigh a lifetime.
- 9 Commodity 6 - health, including emotional health. A day without pain means billions of things went right; you are richer than you think.
- 10 Commodity 7 - Olam Haba. It can't be sold because it is who you became (Slutsk butcher story, Ridvaz). Save for eternity the way you save for retirement.