Why do we need money? Abraham vs Balaam

Why do we need money? Abraham vs Balaam

Say, you need money?

Today, more and more people are dreaming about money. Some even up to the end they do not know what they would do with the money if they they will have, but see the money the goal of his life.

Hard to say with certainty how things were in the past. But we know that the earlier people had other values, which were more important than money, and sometimes even more important than life. No, I certainly do not call to sacrifice their lives in the name of high ideals, but it is curious that today the values have lost appeal: the evolution of social ideals threw all the "false" value, and on top of human aspirations were money. And society itself has become a consumer. Accordingly, human importance in modern society is now directly connected with its ability to generate money supply. Other qualities such as intelligence, strength, talent - all of them are evaluated through the prism of profit: "How much does it make money?"

At the same time everywhere you can hear criticism of the current situation. They say that the market has destroyed everything of value. But I would suggest to look at what is happening from a different angle.

The world is arranged so that all people depend on each other. We can not provide themselves with all the benefits and are forced to collaborate and share values with others. Starting with an attempt to build a tower of Babylon people a lot of time interacting with each other.

Knight or merchant

In the nature of human relations, there are two main ways to obtain values from other people:

Values can be collected against a person's will, through various forms of physical or psychological violence.

Values can barter a person with his consent.

In other words, we have a market economy, or military conflict. Our history is full of wars, as well as the ideals of courage, heroism, self-sacrifice. It was always a beautiful and respected. Warriors were awarded medals, sang in the sagas. The names of some of them is remembered to this day. But traders not really complain. It was believed that the merchants - unscrupulous people, and itself engage in trade in many societies was considered unworthy.

These values and to this day sounds echo within us. Experience for yourself what you will hear more worthy Knight or merchant?

But the tragic consequences of the struggle of ideologies XX-th century - Communism and Nazism - was forced to rethink the value of humanity. We are not ready to believe anything other than more than our personal gain. We have entered the era of the market, and the consumer has become its main character.

But why, then, we are still unhappy? Even the most successful participants of the market, affluent, experienced discomfort due to constant consumer of the race. And not in vain, because modern market principles of competition, personal profit and obsessions of consumption can not regulate all spheres of society. For example, it is impossible to build a strong healthy family on the principles of competition and personal gain. And this, incidentally, is one of the main reasons for such a large number of divorces today.

Therefore, it is important to understand that this situation - just another stage in the development of human relations. And inevitably, by trial and error, humanity will come to realize that even in the consumer lifestyle is important to find a balance.

But there is another way of development. Path of Wisdom. Way has long been outlined in the Torah. And everyone who wants to protect themselves from unnecessary mistakes can go that route.

What is the balance? The Torah tells us about the two persons whose character and behavior are absolutely the opposite type.

Abraham and Balaam

Both of these men, and Abraham and Balaam, in his time come to realize that the world has a Creator, and his creations - a goal. Abraham chose to live in union with God, in cooperation with the creation of goals. Consuming only what he needs, he "invested" all the power and all the vital resources for the continuation of life and the will of the Creator. Balaam chose to live happily, and all the data it wealth to spend on something that gives him pleasure and glory.

The Hebrew root of the word "ball" can be translated as "swallow", and the name of Balaam itself as "swallow". Balaam seeks to swallow the whole world. Abraham, unlike Balaam was a merciful man. The Torah mentions that Abraham was committed to free fed and watered and given lodging to all travelers. With the Hebrew word translated as Abraham "a great father." Think about how a father could treat his children.

In the Torah, Abraham's name is mentioned in the context of prosperity and success. In turn, the name of Balaam firmly connected with a curse, and trouble.

Returning to the subject of the market, all who wish to avoid suffering consumer immaturity need to realize is the main difference between Abraham and Balaam.

Balaam - spender. Mindless consumer, burns all vital resources. Abraham - the investor. Being in partnership with the Creator of the world, He puts everything he's got - time, money, effort, ability - the development and prosperity of the world. His world and the world of all human beings.

Think about that any business seeking to increase productivity and reduce unnecessary expenditure. Why, then, the average successful businessman does not want to live according to this formula, when it comes to his personal budget? Instead, he buys unnecessary luxuries and spend money on luxuries.

The next step in the evolution of human relations must be the realization that there is a global project called Life. And each of us has the opportunity to work in partnership with the author of this project. This, of course, does not mean that you need to become a hermit and throw away credit card. Rather, you need to start buying high-quality and really the product you are based, but a deliberate decision and not on impulse. A major share of our vital energy to invest in creative creative process, rather than in the process of consumption.

Make it not so easy. Such an approach would require the person to change their perceptual filters. Just as a good business to be responsive to the needs of the market, and people must also be able to overcome the boundaries caused by his usual filter of perception: Instead of continuing to ask, "What else can I here to get," he can go higher, to start noticing what other problems and unmet needs exist in the world.

It is interesting that such a person is able to give the most appropriate value proposition, and therefore, will have a competitive advantage, and thus be able to earn more money. Such is the "market altruism".

The task to change their perception applies to all areas of life - not only in business, but also to be creative, to education, to the relations in marriage and parenting.

In general, I voiced my thoughts ... What to do with them then - you decide. But remember that the method of "trial and error", in any case, lead us to development.

Source: Imrey, Noam. imrey.org