Seon
The problem lies in the so-called "praying thief".
It's an idea used when discussing BELIEF vs TRUST.
Belief & Trust
Belief is not enough—you need Trust.
A believer can be a thief and a murderer.
Trust in G‑d changes the way you live.
More:
Consider the Talmudic thief who kneels before G‑d before burglarizing, praying for success. Isn’t such behavior oxymoronic? If he believes in G‑d, as his prayer suggests, how can he engage in an act clearly forbidden by G‑d, and, worse yet, pray for success?
Because he has faith (emunah) but lacks trust (bitachon).
While in the mind of our devout thief, G‑d exists somewhere, somehow, his personal life must go on. Bread must be put on the table.
To the trustee in G‑d, however, G‑d is intimately involved in our lives. Far from being removed, His presence is manifest and His interest in us engaged. Therefore, it is His blessing, not our efforts, we rely upon for success.
If trusting in G‑d sounds like an easy exercise, it has been grossly oversimplified.
There are those who argue that to trust in a Higher Being and His Providence is to take life’s easy path, much like using crutches instead of walking on one’s own. But real trust demands herculean effort and commitment. For to truly place one’s lot in the hands of G‑d, not in word or deed alone, but in mind and heart as well, is as counterintuitive as bungee-jumping.
Your life is on the line. And you don’t physically see the lifeline which holds you from behind (or above) as the world barrels past you at lightning speed.
That can’t be easy.
This point can be further illustrated by a parable:
Long before the entertainment industry boomed, tightrope walking was a common form of amusement and recreation.
Once, a world-famous master of the sport visited a particular region. Word spread quickly, and many people turned up for the show. All was quiet as the master nimbly climbed the tree from which he would begin his dangerous trek.
But just before beginning his routine he called out: “Who here believes I can make it across safely?”
The crowd roared their affirmation. Again he asked the question and was greeted by the same response.
He then pulled out a wheelbarrow from between the branches and asked, less boisterously, “Which of you is willing to get inside the wheelbarrow as I cross?”
You could hear a pin drop.
Faith is the roaring response of the crowd; trust is climbing into the wheelbarrow.
To sum up:
Lots of people say they believe in G-d, but when actually given the challenge of proving it, they FAIL.
On the other hand, there are many "atheists" that are actually "moral people" (though they forget it being a direct result of their upbringing in a culture based on originally religious moral system).
But their "morality" comes easily into a contradiction of "I want vs I'm allowed".
Why?
Cause the only factor that holds them back is the subjective "morality", in other words, themselves.
As I heard before (as a joke, but it reflects the real problem): "It's forbidden, but if you REALLY want it..."
Knowing (REALLY KNOWING, a hard job to do) that you are accountable to G-d AND that He cares and provides for you, is a shortest way to become the most "moral" citizen.
Because then you realize that "what is mine is mine, and what is yours is yours" and I don't need it at all.
Or I would have been given it by G-d to begin with.
A bit repetitive yet important:
Do you know the main reason why people commit crimes?
Cause they are not content with what they already have and they want to have things that are not theirs.
But if I know that I'm constantly given EVERYTHING what I need by G-d, Who knows everything (definitely including my needs) and cares about everyone (regardless of one's "religiousness", G-d loves everyone, the problem starts when we decline the offer), then I'd never want anything I don't have already.
This doesn't mean not to make money or buy new stuff.
Rather, this means not being jealous of someone else's belongings.
And that's TRUST.
