What can we do? We have to bribe our hearts in the other direction and find ways to motivate ourselves and our children to enjoy Torah and Mitzvos. So too when we are educating our children and students, we have to try and appreciate what they enjoy and how to buy their interest. In that way they will be interested in what we have to say too.
The following is explained by the Rambam in his commentary on the Mishnayos Sanhedrin chapter 10. The Rambam explains that when a child comes to his teacher and doesn't want to study, his teacher should bribe him with some nuts or honey. Although the kid still isn't interested in learning but he wants the nuts. The Rambam continues, when the child outgrows the nuts, then his teacher should encourage him with nice clothing or nice shoes. When he outgrows that, his teacher should offer him some money! When he outgrows that too, then his teacher should convince that it's worth while studying to become a Rabbi and he will get a lot of honor!
The Rambam continues that although it's not the ideal way, but as long as the mind is still too small to understand the true value one must use an incentive! Now let's try and understand what age group the Rambam is talking about. Nuts and honey, a kid. Nice clothing and nice shoes, a teenager. Money? To become a Rabbi, to enjoy honor??? Yes no matter what age we must always look for a way to draw the interest of ourselves and our students, even in Ruchniyuus! Are we past that age yet?
