The two dead
In a small town, a dissolute Jewish rich man died. The whole town came to offer their condolences. When he was placed in the coffin in the grave, there was crying and lamenting everywhere. According to the old memories of the town, even the priests, residents, and saints who had died before did not cause such sadness. It was just another day when someone else in the town also passed away. He was wealthy but completely different from the first one. He lived abstemiously, eating thrifty dry bread and turnips. He was very religious and spent all day indoors studying the luxurious codes of religion. However, after his death, not only did his family not offer condolences for him, they didn't even hold a proper funeral. A stranger, puzzled by this, asked: "Please explain to me why this town respects a dissolute person while ignoring a saint?"
The town's residents replied: "Yesterday, that rich man who was buried, although he was a drunkard and indulged in pleasures, was the most generous person in town. He was easy-going and cheerful, and everyone in the town benefited from him in some way. He would buy wine for one person, then chicken or cheese for another, and it was always very easy to benefit from him. But what did the other rich man do? He ate bread and turnips, and no one could earn a penny from him. Of course, no one will miss him."
Readers comprehend: When riches cannot bring benefits to the people around them, they are as good as failure.
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