Rav Avigdor Miller on Buying At Bargain Prices

Q: How are we supposed to find the inspiration needed to serve Hashem, when most of the people around us are apathetic to the whole concept of serving Hashem by always thinking about Him?

A: The answer is that you have to know that today you can buy avodas Hashem at a bargain. You know that sometimes a man manufactures a certain article, and then he can’t find any customers for it. And so you come along and you offer him a very low price, and he’s willing to sell it to you. At least somebody is willing to buy it; and he’s happy to sell it to you. And so you gain a tremendous amount of property for cheap, and you’ll be able to make a very big profit on it. He sold it all out to you because nobody else wanted it.

Now, when Hakodosh Boruch Hu sees that other people don’t want it, that they’re not interested, and they don’t serve Hashem; and then you come along and you choose avodas Hashem, you’re making a tremendously good business deal. You’re gaining something that will give you a tremendous profit. Just because of that opposition, that apathy to avodas Hashem, just because of that, those who do serve Hashem are going to be so much more rewarded.

Now, today is an opportunity that we never had before. Once upon a time everybody kept kosher. Everybody! Everybody kept Shabbos. Everybody! Who are you?! You’re just keeping Shabbos? Once upon a time you were a nobody. But today, a שומר מצוות, someone who keeps the mitzvos, is an exception. So Hakodosh Boruch Hu will give a very great reward.

And don’t be satisfied with that. Don’t think that it’s enough. But at least you’re starting out with some big capital. Now, we don’t want other people to be רשעים, to be wicked, so that we should profit by their wickedness, but still, that’s how it turned out, that we’re lucky enough to be in this generation. And therefore, because we are the ones who choose to walk on the דרך השם, on the path of service of Hashem, therefore Hakodosh Boruch Hu is going to give us a much greater reward than we would have ordinarily deserved.

So don’t feel discouraged by those around you. On the contrary, it’s a מציאה today, it’s a real bargain today.

As you walk in the street, and you’re thinking about Hakodosh Boruch Hu, and nobody else around you is doing that. The people around you are thinking of everything in the world except for Hashem. You should know that you’re getting a tremendous שכר, a tremendous reward. “I’m thinking about Hashem, and nobody else is!” Hashem is looking at you. At you! “You’re My man,” He says. “I’m going to reward you for this.”

TAPE # E-167 (April 1999)