How much is too much?

Well with Purim around the corner you might think that question would simply be answered; “until one can’t tell the different between blessed is Mordechai and cursed is Haman”. But actually my question is; how much is too much?

The Megillah tells us the details of the great feast that the King Achashvairosh made to celebrate his kingdom;

…the king made a seven-day feast in the courtyard of the king’s palace garden, for all the people in Shushan the capital, nobleman and commoner alike. There were hangings of white, green and blue, held by cords of linen and purple wool to silver rods and marble pillars. There were divans of gold and silver on a floor of alabaster and marble [arranged in patterns of] rows and circles. Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of assorted design, and the royal wine was in abundance as befitting the king. The drinking was by the law, without force, for so had the king ordered all the stewards of his household, to comply with each man’s wish.

Seems a little excessive for a party, but then again he was the king. But, by all accounts this is more information – seemingly – then we who are reading the Megillah some 2300 years after the events of Purim need to or perhaps even care to know. Why did the authors of the Megillah see it fit to provide us with all this detail?

So, I ask the question again, how much is too much? If you are the king, then a party of divans of only gold on a floor of hardwood would be too little. And if you are the king then just to drink royal wine but not in the goblets of assorted designs would just miss the boat. But if you are just a regular commoner, then perhaps a wooden chair and a shot glass of vodka might cut it.

The lesson the Megillah is teaching us is that if it is necessary for King Achashvairosh to make a feast without missing any of the detail, then when we are considering our service of G-d, we need to ask how much is too much, or rather how much is too little?

Ultimately, we are evaluated by our own abilities and the gifts that G-d gave us. Are we utilizing our potential to its fullest? Are we adorning our spiritual homes with “hangings of white, green and blue, held by cords of linen and purple wool to silver rods and marble pillars”, or do we suffice with simple drapes? Are we sitting on folding chairs sipping cool-aid from plastic cups when we could be drinking from golden vessels, vessels of assorted design, and royal wine in abundance as befitting the king!

So when you have had a few L’chaims this Purim, ask yourself that question again, HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH! Hiccup! I need two alka-seltzer or another drink.

Happy Purim!

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