Moshe told the Jews: When traveling through Edom, we ought to pay our way, “for forty years Hashem has been with you and you have lacked nothing!” Rashi explains that if one has money, it is ungrateful to hide or deny it.
Ought we to flaunt wealth? Doesn’t flaunting wealth cause others to be jealous, and lead to egotism?
One suggestion was that this was specific to that generation. They had followed Hashem out into the desert. Everyone was sure that they were a ragged, homeless bunch. They had a special mitzvah to show how successful they were, despite all odds.
Another suggestion is that we indeed refrain from showing off our money where that would breed jealousy and vanity. Indeed, that is not humble recognition of Hashem’s gifts. However where this is not so, like in the desert where all were equally rich, acknowledgment of Hashem’s blessing is proper.
The lesson is that in private one needs to be cognizant of the blessings he receives, and when appropriate, such as when doing a mitzvah, one ought to be generous with his money.
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