By: Reb Gil Locks
Did you ever wonder why if feels so good when you do another person a favor?
According to the Ba’al Shem Tov, helping that Jew could have been the very reason that you were born. He used to say, “A soul comes down to live on this earth for a period of 70 to 80 years for the sole purpose is to do another Jew a single favor, materially or spiritually.” In other words, it is worthwhile for a Jewish soul to make that tremendous journey and descent from heaven to earth in order to do something even once for a fellow Jew.
Maybe that Jew you just helped was your ticket back to an even higher place than you came from? And if not actually higher, definitely richer. Helping him allows you to return with your mission fulfilled! Surely that will make you happy.
Rebbe Shmuel of Lubavitch taught, “G-d treasures the praise one lavishes upon a fellow more than the prayers of the righteous.”
We are told not to do mitzvahs just because G-d commanded us to do them because that is such a low reason for doing something. But how about doing something that G-d treasures because you want to make Him happy?
You want an easy way to make G-d happy? Say something wonderful about someone you know… and really mean it. When you give G-d such a treasure, it will surely make you smile. And when helping someone else makes you smile, that will surely make G-d smile.
To read more wisdom from Gil Locks, visit him at www.thereisone.com or stop by and visit him the next time you are by the Kotel.
