R’ Yerachmiel of Parshischa, a son of the Yid Hakadosh, teaches an important lesson in his sefer Mei Hadaas, from the opening words of this week’s parshah. Citing the passuk in Mishlei, “Bechol derachecha da’eihu — Know Hashem in all your ways,” the Shulchan Aruch writes, “Shekol ma’asecha yihyu l’shem Shamayim — Everything you do should be for the sake of Heaven.” Even when we do mundane things like eating, sleeping, or earning money, there should always be a higher motive present. It shouldn’t be (just) for our self-pleasure. If a person does mundane things with this attitude in mind, the mundane won’t distract him during his avodas Hashem.
We can also derive this from the words, “Vayikach Korach.” When a person “takes” for himself and engages in worldly pursuits for his own enjoyment, the result will be “korach.” Korach can be understood as frozen coldness. Doing things solely for our own pleasure can cool us off when it comes to serving Hashem.
This sounds like a lofty concept and possibly beyond our capabilities. Nonetheless, sefarim teach us that simply living our lives al pi Torah (eating only kosher and only at times when it’s permitted, making berachos, eating in the sukkah, etc.) introduces the element of l’shem Shamayim. A person may be eating because he’s hungry and enjoying the food, but if he does so according to the Torah’s guidelines, it’s still considered somewhat for the sake of Heaven.
In fact, we can learn this concept from Korach as well. Korach had his own ideas for fulfilling mitzvos. He felt that a room full of sefarim shouldn’t need a mezuzah. But such a room does need a mezuzah because the Torah says so. It’s not enough to be a “Jew at heart” and do the right thing based on what we “feel like.” We need to be committed to following the Torah and halachos as transmitted in Shulchan Aruch. We can’t make our own decisions based on what we feel is important or how we believe we should serve Hashem. We need to stick to the rules.