"Lest you will eat and be satisfied, and you will build good houses and settle" (Devarim 8:12)
The sefer Ben David quotes Rabbi Ya'akov Duwek HaKohen of Aram Tzova who asks why the verse begins with the future tense, "you will eat" but concludes with the past tense "and be [lit. and are] satisfied." Similarly, it goes on to say "you will build" in the future tense and concludes with "settle [lit. you settled]" which is the past tense?
Rabbi Ya'akov explains beautifully that the Torah wishes to warn Am Yisrael that they should not indulge in the pleasures of This World above what is necessary. That is why the verse says "Lest you will eat and be satisfied" meaning, guard yourself not to overeat if you are already satisfied. Also concerning the warning "you will build good houses and settle", it means to say, if you have a house and are already settled in it, don’t wish for another, even more comfortable, home. Because if G-d forbid you are drawn after luxuries, you can arrive at "Your heart will become haughty and you will forget Hashem, your G-d" (Devarim 8:14). However, in the case where a person is hungry or does not possess a house, this warning is not applicable and the Torah permits him to engage in obtaining these matters so he will be satisfied and settled and able to serve Hashem. This will not cause him to be drawn after the counsel of the Yetzer Hara.
