Small tidbits and Sparks of wisdom

Why Man Must Work

The Creator obligated man to exert himself for livelihood and necessities for two core reasons:

1. Trial of the soul. God gives man needs—food, clothing, shelter, relationships—that must be pursued through effort. What is decreed for a person he will attain; what is not decreed no effort will bring. The real test lies in our choices while pursuing livelihood: to serve God with honesty and restraint, or to rebel and chase forbidden desires.
2. Guard against rebellion. Without the discipline of work, man slides into laziness and sin, forgetting his dependence on God. As the prophet warns: They have lyre and harp, timbrel and flute and wine at their feasts, but they do not notice the work of the Lord (Yeshayahu 5:12).

The Balance of Torah and Work

“Excellent is Torah study together with work, for labor at both brings peace of mind. All Torah without work leads to neglect and sin.”

Man was created to balance worldly exertion with avodas Hashem. Work is a tool—never the center of identity—meant to anchor us to responsibility and gratitude.

Modern Challenges: The New Trials of Livelihood

In earlier generations one could sell in the marketplace and return home with a mind largely untouched by outside influence. Today the trial is magnified:

• Aimless idleness. Endless gaming, scrolling, and shallow online chatter erode discipline and stunt real communication and responsibility.
• False connections. Texting substitutes for friendship; screens replace face-to-face accountability needed for marriage, family, and community.
• The spiritual flood. Modern commerce routes a person through advertising, social platforms, and media steeped in immodesty, greed, and cynicism. The very tools for earning a living carry corrosive values.

The Torah Response

The answer is not retreat into caves, but boundaries and better choices:

• Guard eyes and ears—especially in business settings and online work.
• Prefer livelihood paths that minimize exposure to corrupt culture.
• Strengthen home, shul, and community so they are louder than the culture around us.
• Remember: parnassah is decreed by God. Our test is not whether we get it, but how we seek it.

Conclusion

A century ago a Jew could work the market and remain spiritually intact. Today he must navigate a web of temptations and false values. Yet the principle stands: livelihood is a test. We must work for bread—and work even harder to keep the soul alive amid distraction.

“God will not let the righteous go hungry.”