The Best Way To Perform A Mitzvah

0:14The Shulchan Aruch says that you're actually obligated to do all of the actions you do for Shem Shamayim. Now, surely this is not easy. To do everything for Shem Shamayim is not easy. But the Shulchan Aruch says that, nonetheless, whether it's easy or not, technically, that's the goal. You're supposed to do it. Everything you're supposed to do is supposed to be for the sake of Hashem. Everything. You're learning Torah? It's supposed to be a blessing from G-d. Mishnah in Pirkei Avot, first chapter, third Mishnah. Antigonus, the leader of Soho, received the oral tradition from Shimon HaTzadik. He would say, "Do not be like the servants who serve their master in order to receive a reward, but be like the servants who serve their master not in order to receive a reward. And let the fear of Heaven be upon you." Antigonus, the leader of Socho, the Gadol HaDor in a town called Socho, a couple of thousand years ago, he received the oral tradition from Shimon HaTzadik, who was in direct lineage from David HaMelech. Antigonus said, don't be like servants who serve their master for the sake of receiving a reward.

1:38Rather, be like servants who serve their master without the intent of receiving a reward. And let the fear of Heaven be upon you. Don't do everything you do for the sake of getting money, getting a zivug, or getting this, even getting Olam Haba. You can, but Antigonus, one of the greatest sages that ever lived, said you shouldn't. Technically, you're allowed to say, "Listen, I'm doing all my mitzvot because I want money. I'm doing all my mitzvot because I want Olam HaBa. I'm doing all my mitzvot because I want to have all types of goodies." You can technically do it. But one of the greatest sages that ever lived, 2,500 years ago, says that's a mistake. If I were you, I'd listen. Why? He has a few things to say. And he says to us, out of all the things that he can say, this is what's listed in the Mishnah about him. It's not like there are entire books by Antigonus of Socho. They could have picked anything he said. This is what they picked: the third Mishnah in Pirkei Avot. It says, "Do not be like servants who serve the master for the sake of receiving a reward; rather be like servants who serve the master without the intention of receiving a reward, and let the fear of Heaven (Yirat Shamayim) be upon you." What's the connection? If you serve Hashem because it's the right thing to do...

3:06Because Hashem is the King, because you have to, because He's the best, guess what? He'll give you even more than what you want anyway. The reward for a mitzvah... ...that's done for Shem Shamayim is worlds apart from a mitzvah that's done simply because you want something. What is it like? Imagine a father. A father has sons and daughters. And when he gets home every day, he asks one of the kids to make him a coffee or a tea. ...and, you know, the kid makes a face because he wants to play, and he wants to do other things. He's thinking, "Okay, fine, I'll make it. It's my turn today, right? It's my turn." So, you know, they make a face like they don't realize they're living in a house that their father pays for. He gave them a house, and he just wants a cup of coffee in return. Is that such a big deal?

4:17So when he brings him the coffee and the tea, it's like he gives it to him. He's not really happy about it, but he does it. He's not a bad kid; he's just not, you know, great. He's not Esav, but he's not exactly Yaakov either. They give him the tea. "Okay, Abba, here you go. Abba, here you go." Now, the Abba is content with this kid that is listening to him. Content, right? But you think... He would feel different if he didn't have to ask at all. In fact, as soon as he comes home, all the kids are saying "Abba, Abba, Abba, how are you?" Hugs, kisses, "Abba, Abba, the food's already ready for you. Come on, come on, come sit, Abba, let me take off your jacket and your shoes," one child with the shoe, one with the jacket. "Here's the tea, here, oh, everybody." That Abba can't wait to see his kids. Can't wait to take the money that he worked for all day and give it to them. Buy them whatever they want. Why? All you cared for is for me to come and you already made me, without me even asking. No one needs a high IQ to understand what I just said. That's why it's easy for us to understand. A mitzvah that you do for HaKadosh Baruch Hu is much more valuable than a mitzvah that you do for yourself.

5:45How do we get to that? Going back to what the Ramban says. Tamid. Constantly look for ways to do good deeds. Constantly look for ways to learn more Torah. Constantly look for ways to improve yourself. Constant, constant, constant. 24 hours a day. Don't look for breaks. Don't look to relax. Trust me, when you die, it's much more relaxing there. At least in your imagination, forget about relaxing. HaKadosh Baruch Hu says in the prophet Iyov. The prophet Iyov says, a person came to the world to toil. Not to relax. Not to lay on his stomach. Not to lay on his back. Not to go on vacation. You're alive. You're awake. Do something productive. Can't learn? Go work. Can't work? Go learn. something, do something good, productive, and make sure that whatever you're doing is connected to a

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