Harder Than Mesiras Nefesh
בפסוק בכל מאדך א' חז"ל יש לך אדם שממונו חביב עליו מגופו
On the verse "with all your might" (Devarim 6:5), Chazal said: there is a type of person whose money is more beloved to him than his own body.
The Gemara observes that some people cherish their wealth even more than their own physical life, which the Sfas Emes brings as a puzzle to be resolved.
ולכאורה תמוה לומר כן
On the face of it, it is astonishing to say such a thing.
At first glance it seems strange that anyone would value money above his own body.
וי"ל כי באמת תכלית האדם בעולם שיתקן מעשיו ויחזיר הפקדון לבעליו כמ"ש על זאת יתפלל כו' לעת מצוא וכמ"ש טוב יום המות כשזוכין לעלות כראוי
We may explain that in truth the ultimate purpose of a person in this world is to set his deeds aright and to return the deposit to its Owner, as it is written, "For this shall every devout one pray to You at the time of finding" (Tehillim 32:6), and as it is written, "Better is the day of death" (Koheles 7:1) — when one merits to ascend as is fitting.
The Sfas Emes explains that a person's true mission is to perfect his deeds and ultimately restore his neshamah, the deposit entrusted to him, back to Hashem; the day of departure is therefore called "good" for one who has earned a proper ascent.
וכמ"ש בחובת הלבבות כי הצדיקים מתאוין לצאת מן מאסר הגוף כו'
And as it is written in Chovos HaLevavos, that the tzaddikim yearn to go forth from the imprisonment of the body.
He cites Chovos HaLevavos that tzaddikim actually long to be released from the confinement of the body into a higher existence.
ולכן מי שמוסר נפשו באהבת הבורא ית' ע"י שיודע ומבין כי זה תכלית האמת
Therefore, one who gives over his soul in love of the Creator, may He be blessed, through knowing and understanding that this is the true ultimate purpose,
Thus one who is moser nefesh out of love for Hashem, grasping that returning the neshamah is the true goal, is acting toward something he already desires.
מוסר נפשו בלב שלם
gives over his soul with a whole heart.
For that reason he can surrender his very life wholeheartedly, without inner resistance.
אבל להיות מוסר ממונו ונשאר עוד בעולם הנסיון והעניות מעביר ע"ד קונו יוכל להיות קשה הנסיון יותר ממסירת נפש:
But to give over his money, while he yet remains in this world of trial and poverty — transgressing against the will of his Maker — the test can be harder than the giving over of one's very soul.
But parting with his money means remaining here in the world of nisayon and want, which feels like going against Hashem's arrangement — and that trial can be even harder than mesiras nefesh itself.
Summary: The Sfas Emes addresses the surprising statement of Chazal that some people hold their money dearer than their own bodies. He explains that the true purpose of a person in this world is to perfect his deeds and return his neshamah, the entrusted deposit, to Hashem; for this reason tzaddikim, as Chovos HaLevavos teaches, actually yearn to leave the prison of the body. One who is moser nefesh out of love for the Ribono shel Olam therefore gives over his life with a whole heart, since death brings him to the very goal he longs for. Surrendering one's money, however, leaves a person remaining in this world of nisayon and poverty, feeling as though he is going against the will of his Maker — and that test can be harder than giving over one's very soul.