Our sages, in the ancient collection of rabbinic homilies known as Bereshit Rabbah, delve deep into this very question. They find an answer woven into the fabric of Torah itself.
The verse in Proverbs states, "Might and grandeur are her garb, and she laughs to the final day." Bereshit Rabbah understands this "her" to be Torah. Those who faithfully uphold the Torah, the text implies, are blessed with this radiant garment of might and grandeur. But what about the laughter? When does this joy erupt?
The answer, according to the Rabbis, lies in the future, in the Olam Ha-Ba, the World to Come. It is there that the righteous, those who dedicated themselves to the Torah, will truly rejoice.
And who better to learn this from than our patriarch, Abraham?
Think about it: "For I love him," God says in Genesis 18:19, "so that he will command his children and his household after him, that they observe the way of the Lord, to perform righteousness." Because of this dedication, Abraham "merited old age," as the text tells us, "Abraham was old, advanced in years."
Proverbs 3:16 offers another layer to this understanding: "Length of days is on its right; on its left, is wealth and honor." Now, the Rabbis in Bereshit Rabbah interpret this symbolically. "Length of days," that is, eternal life in the World to Come, is on the right side of the Torah, considered the preferable reward. Wealth and honor, success in this world, are on the left.
It’s not that earthly rewards are inherently bad. Not at all! But the text suggests that the ultimate blessing, the most profound fulfillment, lies in the eternal realm. Even if God grants someone reward in a “left-handed fashion"—meaning, primarily in this world—that person will still receive wealth and honor.
Again, we see this mirrored in Abraham's life. Because he commanded his children to follow God’s path, performing righteousness and justice (Genesis 18:19), he merited old age. As Genesis 24:1 states, "Abraham was old, advanced in years, and the Lord blessed Abraham with everything."
So, what can we take away from all this? Is it about rejecting worldly success? Not necessarily. Instead, it's about understanding the true source of lasting joy and fulfillment. It's about recognizing that by embracing the teachings of Torah, by striving for righteousness and justice, we clothe ourselves in "might and grandeur" and set ourselves on a path toward a laughter that echoes into eternity.
Is it easy? Of course not. But is it worth it? Bereshit Rabbah, and the life of Abraham himself, seem to suggest a resounding yes.