Know Yourself

◌ "Knowing oneself means being self-aware in a balanced way, and neither focusing only on your strengths (the source of arrogance) or only on your weaknesses (the source of low self-esteem. . . . Rachel, . . . the epitome of a loving mother [Jeremial 31:15] . . . envied her sister leah . . . . Knowing Rachel's envy should make us aware that we must not deny our faults [as the Bible does not deny those of Rachel (or anyone else) but recognize and work on them, and always be aware of how those negative qualities may influence what we do" (perhaps to teach us that we too can be good people without being perfect)" [etz Hayim].

"The more conscious we are of our weaknesses, the more we can limit their impact on our lives and the lives of others" [Telushkin, p. 58].

Guard against my weaknesses. Make a fence around them. Identify my weaknesses, then refrain from any behavior that may bring about a possibility of temptation. See Deuteronomy 25:13 - 14 which "not only prohibits using false weights and measures, but outlaws having them in our possession."

◌ "Unwholesome and bad qualities such as envy, vengefulness, ingratitude, laziness, and self-centeredness are usually deeply rooted. Because such traits can be subdued, although rarely fully conquered, the battle against them can last a lifetime. . . . The moment we believe that we have reached such a high spiritual and ethical level that we no longer need to work on ourselves, we are likely to fall" [Telushkin, p. 59].

◌ 1 Corinthians 10:1 (KJV) For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 and did all eat the same spiritual food;
4 and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ.
5 Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer.
11 Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.

King Solomon started well, but his end was disastrous. Surrounded by foreign wives, he built high places for them to worship in, then he began to worship the Phoenecian goddess Ashtoreth and the Ammonite god Milcom [1 Kings 11:4 - 5].

Oh, my love for quotations! This was just too good a quotation! I must included it!
"The fact we don't have many things we desire is not a sign that we are leading a deprived life; it is more likely a sign that we want too much" [Telushkin].