252. Extras (1)

The extreme evil of extras is well-known, as if a person eats or drinks too much, his head and limbs become heavy, and he can cause himself many illnesses. Similarly, one who goes and exerts himself with searching for special foods and other pleasures, such as nice clothes and accommodation, he has wasted time and money, and especially if he spends beyond the means that Hashem gave him, he causes bad for himself, and he can come to the extent that he borrows and does not repay, and then steals and robs, G-d forbid. Even if Hashem has favored him with wealth, it is correct for him to be careful with his money, for Hashem Himself worries about the money of Klal Yisrael, and we know that for righteous people their money is more cherished than their own bodies, as they refuse to touch anything stolen. If, when a person is doing well he becomes used to behaving like a great and wealthy man, then when bad times come upon him, G-d forbid, (as we know that the world works in cycles,) he will feel the necessity to commit theft and all sorts of other crimes to keep his standard of living the way that he is used. One who, on the other hand, teaches himself to be happy with a little, all of his days will be good. And all the extras which he spent for nothing and went to waste, how good it would have been had he used that money for charity. Even if a rich man gives large amounts of charity and uses his money for many good deeds, this does not give him the license to waste the rest of his money., as the poor people are not yet rich.