lbmzr –
The Rashi is a good tzu shtel. And you’re right that Csar seems to be right. Why would work be a good thing?
There’s plenty to think about, but here’s what comes to mind. Work refines a person. It makes a person responsible, an invaluable trait. It forces a person to look beyond his own daled amos and see the world and empathize with other beings; to put himself in their place. Work makes one realize that he has to do in order to get – which taken from the right perspective can be the most humbling experience and a huge step in breaking one’s bad midos, and recognizing that Hashem is in charge. Sitting and learning even on the greatest levels does not always afford a person these things, and even if it does, it’s different. I am not chas veshalom putting down learning. I currently learn full-time myself. But I think that ideally one should aspire to at the same time learn as much as the day as possible for him and also be “oseik b’yishuvo shel olam,” i.e. work hard to make an honest living. There are so many other advantages too. The kids see the parent working hard and not complaining, they learn to work hard without complaining – and this carries over to their ruchniyus as well. L’mayseh if one has the opportunity to learn full-time in their younger years I certainly still say it’s a wonderful thing (unless one isn’t cut out for it), because even with all the benefits of work, you don’t want that your learning should be at a lower level your whole life than it could be, and by spending your younger years involved only in learning you can maximize your potential and thus make your learning experience throughout your entire life a thousand times more enriching. So for now I’m still a full-time learner. But iy”h I will join the work force one day, not because it is b’dieved or a necessary evil, but because it is one of the things we were created for and ought to embrace.