“Abram left Egypt laden with cattle,silver and gold”
Although Abraham was blessed by G-d and had been assured of success, his leaving Egypt was nevertheless slowed by his insistence on taking all his possessions and he felt justified in delaying his return to the promised land in order to make certain that none of his belongings were left behind.
Abraham‘s attitude towards wealth seems to be in conflict with the Talmudic perspective, as when the sages are critical of the tribes of Gad and Reuben for their willingness to forfeit their portion in the promised land for greener pastors in Jordan.
The solution to this seeming contradiction is all in the attitude a person has towards his wealth.
If one believes it to be something with which was entrusted by G-d for safekeeping, then indeed, it is important to guard it, just as one would look after any item he did not own but in who’s safekeeping he was entrusted.
If, however,one thinks that his wealth is all due to his own achievement and that it is all his alone, then it is not considered to be a blessing.
Abraham understood that G-d gave him wealth in order that he should utilize it for the greater good of society through the performance of charity and building his legacy, therefore it was not his to squander but his responsibility to protect.
