Indeed, the yetzer hara has many messengers who encourage the person in the wrong path. They will talk a person into being dishonest with money. They will tell him, “Do so and so... everyone does it.... I’m telling you, don’t be a fool; it’s an incredible opportunity.”
Such friends can ruin a person’s life! Chazal have told us that there are two types of friends a person can have. And so, if a person gets advice from friend, he should examine them: Are they like the friends of Na’aman who healed him from his leprosy or are they like the friends of Rechavam the son of Shlomo HaMelech, who caused him to lose his kingdom, ultimately leading to the Churban Beis HaMikdash.
Often, a person has a dilemma. People encourage him to take a certain step. Should he do it or not? He must ask himself, who are these friends? One must take stock of who these friends are who are advising him to take fateful steps in life. One must ensure that his friends are guiding him towards bliss and long-term satisfaction, and not, chas v’shalom, the opposite.
Withstanding this nisayon brings a person so much good, elevating him as few things can. Every unkosher penny that he refrains from taking comes back to him manifold—not only in a material way, but also spiritually.
Any person who can raise his ten fingers after 120 years on this earth and is able to say, “I lived in a world filled with lies and dishonesty, but I didn’t lie, and I didn’t earn my money in dishonest ways”—such a person is on a lofty level indeed.
It requires much tefillah and much toil for us to truly be able to say this—and the Ribbono shel Olam will surely help us, for “one who comes to purify himself will surely be aided from Above.”
