Look how angry Moshe became at Korach! And look at all the biting criticism he gave. He tells Hashem: ןֶפֵתּ לַא םָתָחְנִמ לֶאטז טו “Don’t accept their Korbanos!” “Did I ever take anything from them?” “Why aren’t you satisfied?” “Isn’t your elevated Levi status enough for you?” Look at the stark contrast between his strong reaction to Korach, and his zero reaction to: הֶשׁמְבּ ןֹרֲהַאְו םָיְרִמ רֵבַּדְתַּו א בי Miriam’s conversation with Ahron about Moshe when he was totally quiet & the Torah says: דֹאְמ וָנָﬠ הֶשׁמ שׁיִאָהְו ג בי Moshe was exceptionally humble. In truth, a person who isn’t Sameach B'chelko deserves a severe tongue lashing. Moshe’s severe anger and criticism is a Siman of how serious is not being a Sameach B'chelko.
And he was dealing with the biggest giants in Klal Yisroel: םֵשׁ יֵשְׁנַאטז ב men of fame, etc. [and major Talmidei Chachomim]. Moshe’s message: It’s all worth nothing if you aren’t Sameach B'chelko. And according to the Gr”a, the issue that caused Churban Bayis Sheni was because there was no Bitachon, meaning no Sameach B'chelko. Last week, the Torah dealt with the Meraglim who didn’t have Bitachon to overcome difficulties. This week, it’s the basic Sameach B'chelko aspect of Bitachon.
Sameach B'chelko Is the True Wealth in This World and The True Avodas Hashem
The Me'am Lo'ez [quoting the Alshich] says that Moshe kept referring to them as “Bnei Levi”, because he was reminding them that they were Chashuvim who weren’t involved in Chet HaEigel and the Meraglim. “It’s not fitting for you to get involved in such lowlife sins like Machlokes!” We have a lesson how to give Tochacha.
The main complaint that Moshe had against: חַרֹק וֹתָדַﬠַו Korach and his flock was that they weren’t Sameach B'chelko. He was the perfect: ַחיִכוֹמ one to give Mussar for this, since he himself hated: הָרָרְשׂ prominence, and he even got punished when he persisted in refusing to become the leader of Klal Yisroel. Moshe truly hated Kavod, and he was the perfect: ַחיִכוֹמ one to give Mussar in this area.
Moshe and Ahron were A-1 Sameach B'chelko, which is #1 in all Avodas Hashem, as it says after the punishments of the Tochacha: הָחְמִשְׂבּ ˃יֶק˄ֱא 'ה תֶא ָתְּדַבָﬠ אֹל רֶשֲׁא תַחַתּ זמ חכ אבת Since you did not serve Hashem with Simcha. Perhaps this is why Ketores was chosen as the “test” to see who is fit for the Kehuna. All other Korbanos are: 'הַל ַחוֹחיִנ ַחיֵר an appeasing fragrance to Hashem. Although they don’t smell good, they are considered a Geshmake: ַחיֵר fragrance, since the person who brings the Korban is doing Ratzon Hashem. But only Ketores is literally: ַחוֹחיִנ ַחיֵר actually has a good smell. Perhaps it is a symbol of: הָחְמִשְׂבּ 'ה תֶא וּדְבִﬠ serving Hashem with Simcha.
The first thing the Cohen Gadol does in the Kodesh HaKodoshim on Yom Kippur is the Avoda of Ketores. And Ketores is: תֶרֶשַׁﬠְמ it makes the Cohen who brings it, wealthy, since it symbolizes Sameach B'chelko which is the true: תוּריִשַׁﬠ wealth.
