Ben Sira, in his wisdom, dives into this very conundrum.
"There exists one who becomes rich from his suffering, and this obligates this reward." It's a powerful image, isn't it? Someone who toils and suffers, finally reaching a point where they can say, "I have found rest, and now I will eat of my good." You can almost picture them, leaning back, finally tasting the sweetness of success after so much bitterness.
But here’s the catch. Ben Sira doesn't let us linger in that moment of triumph for long. He immediately follows with a sobering reminder: "He does not know what's to come and pass, and he'll leave them to others and die." Ouch. It’s a stark reminder of the fleeting nature of life, isn’t it? All that hard-earned wealth, all that longed-for rest… ultimately, it’s temporary. It passes on.
So, what are we to do? Despair? Hardly. Ben Sira isn’t about despair. Instead, he offers guidance. "My son, stand on your principles, and walk with it, and in your work take hold strong." Stand firm. Hold onto your values. Work with diligence. This isn't just about accumulating wealth; it's about how we live our lives while we’re working towards our goals.
He continues, "Do not wonder at the doings of evil, run to the Lord, and await his light." Don't get caught up in the darkness, the negativity. Instead, turn towards the divine, seek guidance, seek hope.
Why? Because "all is in front of the Lord's eyes, to suddenly and quickly, make a needy person rich." There’s a sense of divine oversight here, a sense that even the most unexpected reversals of fortune are part of a larger plan. It's a reminder that help can come from unexpected places, and that those who are struggling can find their way to prosperity.
And finally, the beautiful promise: "The Lord’s blessing is the righteous' lot, and in his hopeful time his good pleasure sprout." The ultimate reward isn't just material wealth, but the blessing of living a righteous life, a life filled with hope and good pleasure that blossoms in its own time.
Ben Sira offers a profound reflection on wealth, suffering, and the true meaning of reward. It's not just about the accumulation of riches, but about the principles we uphold, the hope we maintain, and the light we seek along the way. What does it mean to live a righteous life? How do we find balance between striving for success and staying true to our values? These are questions worth pondering, long after we've finished reading these ancient words.