A man is washed overboard and is left to drown in the sea. He looks up to the Heavens and prays, "God! Please! Help me! Do not let your humble servant drown out here!"
About an hour later a boat happens along and they offer the man assistance. The man scoffs, "No thank you! God is going to help me!" The captain of the boat persists, yet the man is insistant. "No, no no! I don't need your help, I need God's help!" The captain of the boat orders it along as the man prays to the Heavens once again.
About thirty minutes later a helicopter flies overhead. They lower a rope and call to the man. The man rolls his eyes and cries, "No thank you! God is going to help me!" After a short insistance the helicopter flies away as the man prays again.
The man finally prays his last as he slips below the waters and drowns, but then turns ecstatic as a glowing figure embraces him and lifts him above the water. The man cries, "I knew God would come to help me! Now I can go hom to my family!" and the angel sadly frowns and says, "No, you are dead, child." The man is incredulous - "But!?!?! Why did God not choose to help me though I prayed?", to the which the angel shook his head, "Did you not receive both a boat and a helicopter?"
This story, though fictitious, is an outstanding example of a man's unwillingness to see blessings for what they are. Sometimes your rewards are not solely metaphysical - sometimes rewards come in the form of blessings you need right now.
You were kind enough to provide for a friend, a neighbor, or - even more commendably, an adversary. Now they are stirred by God's mercy enough to extend a blessing unto you. In Jewish philosophy you are required to accept this blessing lest you insult your friend and deny a blessing from the Almighty.
Further, stop thinking of yourself like the end. That money should not be moving to you when it should be moving through you. I like to think that God thinks of us like His own personal bank. He looks into us and wisely determines the amount He will invest with us. He expects us to use His money, for it is never truly ours, to further His Name and His cause. We expects us to make it work for Him, just like I expect Wachovia to work for me when I invest my money into investments they offer.
So think of this blessing like a deposit - and find some worthy cause to invest it in on God's behalf.
~ Shaeykh