“Eizehu ashir hasamei’ach b’chelko – Who is rich? He who is happy with his lot”
HaGaon R’ Chaim Volozhiner comments that the mishnah is written in the present tense. He explains that when a person acquires wealth, he is initially delighted with all that he owns. As time goes on, however, he is no longer content with his riches and begins to note what he is still lacking. A feeling of poverty besets him.
The one who is samei’ach b’chelko is always happy with his allotment and fortune in life, and therefore has no reason to be discontent.
