Chazal tell us, ליכא עלמא בהאי מצוה שכר, "Reward for the performance of mitzvos is not received in this world." The reward for the mitzvos that we perform is boundless, and therefore, we will enjoy our reward in the world of eternity. This world cannot contain the vast reward.
This teaching might discourage some of us because people want to be rewarded immediately. They are not as motivated to work hard when they know the reward will only come in the future.
Nevertheless, keep the following thoughts in mind, and you will be inspired to fulfill the mitzvos:
- Remember that you are investing for the future, and it is the best investment you can make. For each prutah that you give to tzedakah, the returns in Olam HaBa will be enormous.
- With Torah and mitzvos, you can experience the joy of Gan Eden, the pleasures of the world to come. Therefore, you are investing in enjoying a better present. All the physical pleasures cannot compare to the happiness we experience when we perform Torah and mitzvos.
- Don’t feel discouraged when you hear that you will receive reward for your good deeds only in Olam HaBa, because, although Chazal tell us, ליכא עלמא בהאי מצוה שכר, that in this world we aren't rewarded for the mitzvos, nevertheless, there are exceptions.
Many of the exceptions are stated in the Mishnah that we say each morning after birchas HaTorah:
פרותיהם אוכל שאדם הדברים אלו ואם אב כבוד הן ואלו הבא לעולם לו קיימת והקרן הזה בעולם בין שלום והבאת תפילה ועיון ...חולים ובקור ...חסדים וגמילות ,כולם כנגד תורה ותלמוד לאשתו איש ובין לחבירו אדם, "These are the mitzvos that we eat the fruits of the good deeds in this world and the primary reward is reserved for Olam HaBa: honoring parents, deeds of kindness, visiting the ill, davening with kavanah, increasing peace among people...and learning Torah is greater than all of them."
Kibud Av v'Em
In this week's parashah is the mitzvah of kibud av v'em (in the Aseres HaDibros). As we wrote, this is one of the mitzvos that are rewarded in this world, as it states (20:12), כבד ימיך יאריכון למען אמך ואת אביך את, "Honor your father and your mother so you will live long..."
The Or HaChaim HaKadosh writes, "The pasuk states, ימיך יאריכון, 'Your days will lengthen'; it doesn’t say, ימיך אאריך, 'I will lengthen your days.' Perhaps this implies that longevity is the segulah of honoring parents, and this is besides the reward that Hashem will give us. Because there are mitzvos that have wonderful segulos, in addition to the reward that Hashem established for each mitzvah. This time, Hashem revealed that honoring parents is mesugal for a long life."
