Mishlei 16-08
Property
Key Concepts
Our economic system is based on private ownership of property by individuals or partners. Each person acquires assets of all kinds over the course of his lifetime. However, the owner of any asset needs to bear in mind that he does not have sole ownership. No matter whether the amount involved is large or small, there is always a silent partner and that is Hashem. Hashem monitors the steps we are taking to acquire our property and he will help us preserve it if we are acting with righteousness. However, if we act unjustly, our assets will not endure.
Property can be used to do much good and a person may therefore be motivated to acquire more of it. But it is also true that the larger the property, the more difficult it is to acquire it in a completely righteous and just way. In effect, Mishlei reminds us to draw the line and limit our acquisition of property to that which we can gain in a completely just manner.
Exploring Mishlei
ח = טוֹב מְעַט בִּצְדָקָה מֵרֹב תְּבוּאוֹת בְּלֹא מִשְׁפָּט
(8) Better a little acquired with righteousness,
than great revenues acquired with injustice.
This proverb compares the methods of acquiring property (justly or unjustly) with the size of the acquisition (great or small). The conclusion is that justice should never be sacrificed in favor of gaining a larger income. Better to severely restrict the size of the acquisition if this is what it takes to preserve honest dealings.
Learning Mishlei
(8) Better a little — טוֹב מְעַט
acquired with righteousness — בִּצְדָקָה
than abundant produce — מֵרֹב תְּבוּאוֹת
acquired unjustly — בְּלֹא מִשְׁפָּט.
Additional Insights
(1) The possessions of a righteous person are under Hashem’s protection. Possessions that are acquired unjustly, however, will ultimately be lost. (מלבי”ם)
(2) If a person deals dishonestly in order to give charity to the poor, he should not expect that the mitzvah of tzedakah will atone for his sin. (אלשיך)
(3) It is better to live frugally with restraint than to live luxuriously with unrestrained spending. (המאירי)
(4) It is better to have few assets and give a limited measure of tzedakah than to have a great wealth while avoiding a corresponding quantity of charity. (המאירי, שבט מיהודה)
(5) It is better to earn less and be free of the obligation to give large amounts to charity, while having more time to devote to learning Torah, than to have a large income with the corresponding obligations to charity. (הגר”א)
(6) It is better to learn less Torah but have a clear understanding of what one has learned than to learn a great deal with limited knowledge. (הגר”א)
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