People aren’t used to hearing such words, but this is what the sefarim teach us—and we can all gain by hearing it. We will explain the concept with the following mashal:
A person approaches a yeshivah’s committee with an overarching proposal to change the curriculum in the yeshivah. He comes with details and charts, and photographs of other yeshivos that have already implemented it, and he provides a truly convincing presentation explaining why this change will benefit the bachurim in the yeshivah and change their lives forever. The committee hears him out, and they deliberate. They are convinced by what he said, but then they find out one more detail: the curriculum and the program he is advocating was authored by him, and implementing it requires a set amount of money every month. Understandably, this changes the entire picture.
This person is not a liar, and he isn’t dishonest. He didn’t necessarily misrepresent the case. But the picture is entirely changed once we know that he has a vested interest in the program—and they will now take what he said with a grain of salt.
Similarly, when a person approaches the Ribbono shel Olam with his tefillah, with the proposal that he should receive this shefah... he says, “It will be such a tremendous kevod Shamayim, it will help bring the Shechinah to This World, it will be good for all of us... and it will even hasten the redemption.” If this person means primarily himself, he invites a certain level of judgment and scrutiny to see whether he is worthy of what he is requesting.
