The Second Wisdom

Moses, peace be upon him, advised Korah: 'Do good, as God has done good to you.' He did not listen, and you have heard how he ended. The one who stored up no good deeds with his gold and silver finally buried his own head in that gold and silver. If you want to enjoy both this world and the next, be generous with people, just as God was generous with you. The Arab says: 'Give and do not remind them of your favor, for its benefit returns to you'; meaning, give freely and put no one under obligation, since the profit comes back to yourself. Wherever the tree of generosity takes root, its branches and crown rise past the heavens. If you hope to enjoy its fruit, do not set the saw of obligation to its trunk. Thank God that you were granted the grace to do good, and that, through His bounty and favor, He did not leave you idle. Do not feel you are doing the king a favor by serving him; know instead that the favor is his, for letting you serve.