The Chovos HaLevavos speaks very highly of a person who motivates others to improve their avodas Hashem. “Even if one were to reach the ultimate level of perfection of his soul, and even if he were to be close to the angels in their refined character, their praiseworthy ways, their efforts to serve the Creator, and their pure love of Him, this is not like the zechus of one who guides others on the proper path and redirects the wicked to serve Hashem ... One who perfects only his own soul will have few zechusim, but one who perfects himself and many others will have his zechusim multiplied in accordance with the zechusim of those he has brought closer to Hashem.”
A prominent kiruv professional once approached Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman on Erev Yom Kippur to ask mechila for taking so much of his time. Rav Shteinman dismissed his concern. “With what can I come to Hashem on Yom Kippur?” he asked. “I’m an old man; it’s hard for me to learn.” He pointed to a thick book listing the names of all the students who had registered in religious schools that year. “With this I can come before Hashem!”
Of course, a person must spend time building his own foundation, or he will have nothing to give to others. A young man once asked the Chazon Ish whether he should leave yeshivah for half a year to teach; he was instructed not to do so. The more one learns, the Chazon Ish explained, the greater his ability to influence others. On a different occasion, he told a student, “The Chofetz Chaim learned for many years to become the Chofetz Chaim. After those years, he changed the world in a very short time.”
Reproduced from Living Kiddush Hashem by Rabbi Shraga Freedman with permission of the copyright holders, ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications, Ltd.
