Four Doors

It is told that Iyov built his house with four doors, one facing each direction, so that a poor man coming from any side would find a door in front of him and would not have to go around. In those days, when the poor met on the road, one would ask, where are you coming from? From the house of Iyov. And where are you going? To the house of Iyov. Chazal add that he forgave his customers the half-peruta they owed him, and that he would take the fields of orphans, work them and return them improved.

When his great trouble came upon him, Iyov said before Hashem: Master of the world, did I not feed the hungry and give the thirsty to drink? Did I ever eat my bread alone, while the orphan had none? Did I not clothe the naked, and warm them with the fleece of my sheep?

Avos deRabbi Nasan relates the answer he received. Iyov, you have not reached half of the measure of Avraham. You sat in your house and waited for guests to come to you, and you gave each one what he was used to: bread to the one used to bread, meat to the one used to meat. Avraham went out to the roads to find wayfarers and bring them home. To those who had never eaten fine bread or meat or wine, he gave fine bread and meat and wine, and he built large houses along the roads so that whoever came in could eat, drink and bless Hashem.