Welcome to the Daily Chizuk. How much chesed (mercy) does Hashem do for us? Imagine you go to someone for a job, and they tell you, “No problem.” They give you a beautiful office and a list of every major account to sell, and they say you get a hundred percent commission. When you go to sell the merchandise, it appears that you’re working for that company, but in reality you’re working for yourself. That’s the dream job. You like the owner, but you don’t have to worry about the maintenance. We all have this dream job. It’s called Avodat Hashem (service of Hashem). Hashem gives us everything we need in this world to live. He gives us a hundred percent commission for every positive action or thought that we have. It looks like we’re working for Hashem, but in essence, we are getting the full benefits.
The Pasuk (verse) in Devarim says, “What does Hashem want from us?” The Pasuk goes on to describe how Hashem wants us to keep all the mitzvot (commandments). Then the Pasuk adds two very important things, two very important words: It’s all for your good. And the Ramban there explains that Hashem doesn’t need us to serve Him for His needs. Rather, everything we do is just to benefit ourselves.
There’s a similar Pasuk in the book of Shemot. It says Hashem commanded us to follow all of His mitzvot. Why? Why? To give us good and life in this world. And the Ibn Ezra there explains that the mitzvot in this world are a benefit to us here, and they’ll benefit us in the next world. Every mitzvah is all for our own good. We know the famous statement of Rabbi Chananya ben Akashya: Hashem wants to give us tremendous merits and benefits. Therefore, He gave us a ton of mitzvot to do. So, although it appears as if we’re working for Hashem, in essence, we’re really working for ourselves. But Hashem, in His mercy, allows us to have dignity and feel as if we’re doing Him the favor.
I once read a mashal (parable) in a book called Torah Tavlin. He said there was once a very big contractor, and one day his top carpenter told him he was retiring. He explained that he’d been loyal for 30 years, and now his wife wanted him home to spend time with the family, and he was retiring. The contractor said, “No, but I need your help. You’re my top worker. Please stay.” The carpenter said, “I’m sorry. My mind is made up.” So the contractor said, “Okay, but I have one more job. I’m about to start it now. Please don’t leave now. Just do one more job.” So the carpenter thought, “One more job to build a house could take a whole other year.” He went and talked to his wife, and his wife said, “No, you said you’re going to retire.” And he said, “But how could I let him down? He’s been so good to us all these years.” With a heavy heart, he came back and said, “Okay, I’ll do this last job.” But he wasn’t into the job at all. He just wanted to get it finished as fast as possible. When they got the wrong tiles, he said, “Just put them in anyway.” The roof was slanty. He said, “It’s okay.” There were cracks in the floor. There were leaks. Everything was fine. And he finished the house in seven months. He went to the owner, the contractor, and said, “I’m done. I’m retiring.” So the contractor said, “This is my going-away present to you.” He handed him the contract and the keys to the house. The carpenter said, “What? This was for me? Oh no. If I knew this was for me, I would have done a hundred times better.”
This is the same thing with our Avodat Hashem. It looks like we’re doing it for Hashem, but we’re really doing it for ourselves. This is the mercy of Hashem. The next time we feel that it’s a burden to do a mitzvah, let us feel that we’re building our own house. Have a great day.