Post by Ben Avraham on Jan 4, 2022 21:44:19 GMT -8
The Zohar says: "A GOOD INTENTION IS ACCOUNTED AS A GOOD DEED" (1:28B) Rabbi Ya'akov responds:
Yes indeed, in most instances, this is true. We take the case of King David, when he wanted to build the Temple, "HaBayet YHVH" Even Nathan the prophet said it was a good idea, yet YHVH told him NO. David was a man of war, his hands soiled with the blood of his enemies, and the House of God would be a place of Shalom. YHVH told him that HE would make a House for David, the "house" being a "household" a "family" with many descendants and would eventually lead to Messiah Yeshua. YHVH said that Shlomo (Solomon) would indeed build the House of God, since he would be a "Melech Shalom" The name "Shlomo" contains the letters that spell "Shalom" Even still, YHVH accredited David with the intention of building the Temple,
Many times, we have good intentions, yet something happens and they don't pan out. Giving your friend a ride to the airport, yet he already went with another friend, he just forgot to tell you. You bring food to a neighbor, but the church already stocked the neighbor's frig. Many times, we speak words of good intentions, but they are taken wrongly. "Stop smoking, you're ruining your health!" "Hey, mind your own beeswax, it's my life!"
"Congratulations for being an expecting mother, how far along are you?" "Uh, I'm not pregnant, I'm overweight!" We have good intentions when we share the gospel with others, but at times, the words fall on closed minds and hearts. I believe God honors those intentions and count them as good deeds.
The Zohar says: HE WHO LENGTHENS THE LIFE OF A POOR MAN HAS HIS OWN LIFE LENGTHENED WHEN HIS TIME TO DIE ARRIVES (3:85a) Rabbi Ya'akov responds;
Not necessarily. There are probably many men (and women) who have helped the poor to extend their lives, yet they themselves have died young, yet others have lived long lives. The decision is all in YHVH's hands. We should be ready to help lengthen the lives of the poor without expecting long lives ourselves. But are the years of life really the most important? or is the quality of life more important? We should strive to better the life of a poor person by speaking the Words of the
, leading that person to Messiah Yeshua. That person might be poor on earth but will be rich in Heaven. But poverty can come physically, economically, or spiritually. One can be poor in health, one can be poor in assets, and one can be poor spiritually, (not knowing the Messiah as personal Savior). We can help lengthen the life of a person in poor health by recommending good healthy foods and vitamins, we can help a poor person by teaching him or her a trade, you can give a person a fish, or teach that person how to fish. We can help a spiritually poor person by directing that person to the knowledge of Messiah Yeshua and help that person understand HIS Word. The years of life are in the hands of God, for all people. But yes, at time YHVH extends lives, like in the case of King Hezekiah. Be ready to meet the LORD when HE calls. The Zohar says: NEGLECT NOT THINE OWN POOR IN ORDER TO GIVE TO STRANGERS WHO ARE POOR (4:206a) Rabbi Ya'akov responds;
Indeed this is true. We must care for our own family first and then, reach out to others who are in need. For to what does it avail to be a "light in the street" but "darkness in your own house." But again, poverty comes in the physical, in the want of money, and in the spirit. Yeshua said to his Talmidim to go into the world and preach the gospel, but starting in Yerushalayim, then to Judea, and lastly, the to uttermost parts of the earth.
The gospel was preached to the Jews first, then to the Gentiles. Buy bread for your own family, when all have eaten, share more bread with the needy.
Buy clothes for your family first, but keep back some money to buy clothes for the poor. Make sure your own family has a relationship with the God of the Universe, or at least, has heard the message, then take the message to others.
