Why should anybody appreciate the world today, if he knows that the world to come is more enjoyable?
ANSWER:
Why not? If it'll hinder you - let's say, if eating in the lobby will ruin your appetite, you'll eat some cheap confections in the lobby and then when the time comes to eat the expensive dishes served in the wedding hall you won't have an appetite - certainly you don't ruin your appetite on nothing.
But suppose it's not going to interfere, why not? Especially if you'll take what this world offers and you'll make a very big brachah over it, and you'll be happy with gratitude to Hakadosh Baruch Hu, not only are you justified in enjoying it in this world, but that's going to bring you (to olam Habah), that's part of the hasken atzmecha, that's part of the preparation, to enjoying properly the things of this world, and thanking Hashem! That's one of the big things.
Kol haomer shira b'olam hazeh, if you say song to Hashem in this world by thanking Him for the good things you have here, zoche v'omro l'olam haboh, you'll say it in the world to come. So therefore, on the contrary, if you'll enjoy properly, it's springtime, and the sun is shining tomorrow, or even if it's raining tomorrow, it's a beautiful spring rain, not too hot not too cold, and go out and breathe the new spring air, and say Hakadosh Baruch Hu, we thank You that You gave us life!! Baruch ata Hashem hamachazir neshamos lifgorim maiseim, that You give us another day of life, to enjoy and to breathe, and to eat and to see all the wonderful things of creation, and you thank Hakadosh Baruch Hu.
Not only why not, you should do it, and that's going to be the hasken atzmecha b'prosdor.
Good Shabbos To All
This is transcribed from questions that were posed to Harav Miller by the audience at the Thursday night lectures.
To listen to the audio of this Q & A please dial: 201-676-3210
Important Numbers
