A G‑d-fearing Jew once embarked on a long overseas journey. He was one of many traveling with valuable merchandise, planning to spend several months overseas selling their goods, and hoping to return with a significant profit.

One evening, far out at sea, the merchants saw a threatening storm in the distance. Everyone panicked, but the Jew escaped to a corner and prayed to G‑d that they should reach shore safely.

The ship began swerving from side to side; huge waves of water splashed in, and the boat began to sink. The captain announced that to lighten the boat, everything heavy must be cast into the sea. The merchants watched aghast as the crew cast the expensive merchandise overboard.

The ship eventually docked safely. Although the merchants were thankful to be alive, they were upset at losing their money and belongings. Only one person showed no sign of sadness – and that was, of course – our dear Jew.

It was not long before the Jew was asked by one of the other merchants, “Sir, aren’t you upset at losing all you owned? Why do you look happy?”

“I still own my possessions,” the Jew answered, “I never lost them.”

The merchant was astonished. The Jew explained, “You see, the merchandise I had aboard was not significant to me, for I did not consider it my life. My life is Torah and its commandments and my connection to G‑d, and that I have not lost!”

–Mishlei Chachomim, Chumash Beis Yehuda

“There must be more to life than having everything.”

“Money may be the husk of many things, but not the kernel. It brings food, but not appetite; medicine, but not health; acquaintances, but not friends; joy, but not happiness. It is good to have money and the things that money will buy. It is also good to make certain that we have not lost the things that money will not buy.”

“The real measure of a man’s worth is how much he would be worth if he lost all his money.”

“Money can’t love you back.”
—Bank ad

“People make money – not the other way around.”