More Than You Need

An address to the members of the Machne Israel Development Fund

A Jew starts the day reciting Modeh Ani: “I give thanks to You, living and eternal King, for returning my soul with great mercy.” G-d returns our souls invigorated, refreshed and robust so that we may have a healthy day in all ways, both physically and spiritually. And He does this with “great mercy.” Even if it would just be G-d’s “ordinary” mercy we would obviously receive everything we need. But when we emphasize that G-d gives with “great mercy,” it means that G-d gives even that which one doesn’t feel a need for.

A prime example of this may be seen with a businessman. It can happen that G-d grants him such an abundance of resources that he has all that he needs. But since G-d foresees what is going to happen in both the near and distant future, G-d continues to bless him with more and more, so that he will be able to start preparing now for even more extraordinary success in the future.