We continue in the Bet Halevi where he tells us that one who relies on Hashem gets a double benefit.
The first benefit is in this world, as we discussed yesterday, that he will definitely get what he's lacking.
But beside that, his reward in the next world is immense, because of the rule that there is no reward in this world for Mitzvot.
All the benefits that we get in this world are just dividends, just the fruits of our Mitzvot. The true benefit is in the next world. This is an important point, because sometimes people are bothered, “I relied on Hashem and I didn't get what wanted. Is that a wasted bitachon?” Of course not, because bitachon is a mitzvah like any other mitzvah, and whether you get what you want or not is irrelevant. Of course, it's nice to get what you want, but if for some reason you did not have enough bitachon, if you're not on the Vadai program so you didn't get what you wanted, it's not a waste because your efforts in bitachon will be rewarded like any other mitzvah.
Furthermore, Rabbenu Yonah writes in Mishleh that the reward for the bitachon is greater than the item that you wanted to get through the bitachon. For example, it's hard to find parking in Brooklyn.
So you're driving on Coney Island Avenue and you need a spot. And sure enough, you rely on Hashem, “Please Hashem, get me a spot,” and a spot opens up. Beautiful! You got the spot. But what happens if you didn't get the spot? What's the value of a spot? You could have parked at a pump. Those are not always available either, but let's say the pump was available but you didn't park at the pump because you didn't want to get a $200 ticket. So what's the parking spot worth to you? $200. Well, the reward that you're going to get for relying on Hashem for that spot is definitely worth more than the $200 value of the spot.
You're definitely going to end up getting more by relying on Hashem than you would've gotten for actually getting what you want. So, it's a win-win situation. Whether you get what you want or not, you're ahead of the game, because the reward for bitachon is immense.
There's another point, which is that if there's no reward in this world for Mitzvot, then why do I get what I want when I rely on Hashem? The answer is, you're not getting what you want as a reward for your bitachon. You're getting what you want because Hashem is kind, and if you rely on somebody, that person is going to come through for you. That's the way the world works. If you rely on somebody, he's going to come through for you.
There's a famous question about Maaser. When it comes to giving Maaser, God says, “Test Me with this. I'll open up the windows of the heavens and I'll bless you and I'll give you all kinds of blessing.”
How does that work, if there's no reward in this world for Mitzvot?
Why is maaser an exception? There are different answers. The Sefer HaChinuch answers that when you give maaser, there are two things going on. There’s the Mitzvah of maaser, and for that you don't get rewarded in this world. But there's also a financial deal. God needs money, so to say. He says, I'm short on cash. Could you give that poor man money and I'll pay you back?
So, there's a financial deal here. That's why with maaser, you can test Hashem.
The Hovot Halevavot gives a different answer. He says that the whole concept of maaser is an act of bitachon.
I'm giving 10% of my wealth, or 20% of my wealth, and I'm relying on Hashem that I'm not going to lose out. That reliance in Hashem, that Bitachon is what gives you the blessing. And a bitachon blessing is not cashing in to your bank account, you're not emptying out your Schar Hamitzvot/reward for Mitzvot, because it has nothing to do with the mitzvah.
Bitachon in itself gets you what you want, and that's one of the reasons why that it has nothing to do with how many merits you have. It's just a natural concept. To the point that the Chafetz Chaim said, as we mentioned recently, that Lot told the people of Sedom not to hurt the guests because, “They came to my house. They're relying on me.”
If someone's relying on you, you come through. That is just plain old reliability. It has nothing to do with a reward for a mitzvah. It’s just common decency.
If you rely on Hashem, He's going to come through for you. And that is the concept of bitachon being rewarded both in this world and in the next. Have a wonderful day.