Musing – How to “Open Your Eyes” to Your Blessings?

Hebraic Musing – How to “Open Your Eyes” to Your Blessings?

What a beautiful prayer in Psalm 119:18  “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” ESV.   And proverb Proverbs 20:13 sounds contradictory, but is it? “Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.” ESV   How does that work?  Open your eyes and you’ll love the law and have plenty of bread (or prosperity)?!?!

A Jewish Russian, Mikhail Fridman, was a very wealthy businessman who raised eyebrows when he announced that he didn’t plan to leave any of his money to his children when he passes away.  Mr. Fridman was known to be extremely generous philanthropist, so this surprised many people.  He understood something researchers have found.  All too often children do not benefit from large fortunes being handed over to them.  Unearned money has been found to increase unhappiness and decrease productiveness in the lives of many heirs.  And believe it or not, many lottery winners are unhappy with their destroyed lives.

From this example, what can we learn about the love of a father who withholds luxuries from his children for their own good?  Is it possible that God often does the same for us, His most beloved children?!?!

To explain the phrase in Proverbs, “open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread” Rabbis use a parable:  

“There was once a father with a son who was very ill. He found the finest doctor who was able to cure his son, but the doctor also warned that the child must keep away from even the smallest amount of fatty meat. 

One day while the father was away on a business trip, the son found himself near freshly cooked meat that smelled incredible.  The boy couldn’t help himself, gave into the temptation and ate some of the meat.  When his father arrived home, he found his son hovering between life and death.  He went back to the doctor who healed the child once more, and the father promised never to leave his son unsupervised again.

Sometime later when the father was having a feast for friends and relatives, he chased his boy out of the dining hall.  To the guests, the father seemed cruel and unkind.  But the truth was that the father was acting out of love for his son and protecting him from what would harm him.”

In the same way, is it possible that God gives us less than we want because it is for our own good?  Too often we are unsatisfied with our lot in life.  But the verse says, “Open your eyes!”  God sees a broader picture than what is in front of us.  Might there be good reasons why God gives what He gives and withholds what He withholds?  Can we learn to appreciate that God is giving us exactly what is best for us?  If we do, then we will never feel we are lacking for anything.

Points to ponder

The truth is that God has already given us plenty – all that is good for us,
and none of what might harm us at this time in our lives.

Do we tend to want things before the right time?
Why is “Buy now, pay later” a recipe for unhappiness?

♫  Count your blessings, name them one by one…  ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                               January 22, 2019  

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired and excerpted from Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein’s “Dangers of unearned inheritance”, Dec. 27, 2018