We've discussed many times what the Torah commentaries highlight, that our purpose in this world is exclusively to have emunah and bitachon in Hashem. At the same time, we've discussed how Hashem has commanded us to fulfill the mitzvah of hishtadlus, to make our own effort in this world, in our endeavors. The mitzvah of hishtadlus, of making our own effort, if understood in the wrong way, can be one of the biggest deterrents of living a life of sincere emunah and belief in...
We've discussed many times what the Torah commentaries highlight, that our purpose in this world is exclusively to have emunah and bitachon in Hashem. At the same time, we've discussed how Hashem has commanded us to fulfill the mitzvah of hishtadlus, to make our own effort in this world, in our endeavors. The mitzvah of hishtadlus, of making our own effort, if understood in the wrong way, can be one of the biggest deterrents of living a life of sincere emunah and belief in Hashem.
Because again, if I make an effort and am led to believe to some degree that I am the one who is in control of my destiny, that is exactly the opposite of the perspective of emunah, which believes ein od milvado, there is only Hashem in the world, and He is in absolute exclusive control of all of our happenings. It is important to remember the words of Messilas Yesharim, one of the classic commentators, who writes that although we do have an obligation to make an effort, we are nevertheless to view our efforts, our hishtadlus, in the same image of one who is paying a tax. When I pay tax for something, that action does not help me in a direct way to bring in more income. It is just a payment that I am obligated to pay, and once I have done so, I can carry on with my other activities to try be successful in bringing in income.
And in the same way, when we do hishtadlus, we are to view that act just as a payment of our tax to Hashem. If I am sick and I visit the doctor, I need to remember that visiting the doctor will not make me better. It is just the payment of the tax that I am required to do in Hashem's books to fulfill that mitzvah, and only Hashem exclusively can heal me, independent of any doctors or medication. And the same would apply to any other area, be it trying to make money, be it trying to succeed in finding a marriage partner, and whatever endeavor we might be dealing with. If Hashem runs the world completely, as we are taught by the perspective of Emunah and Bittachon, why is it that He commanded us to fulfill the mitzvah of hishtadlus? He doesn't need our help.
Hashem can do everything and does everything exclusively, so why does He command us to make an effort? There are different reasons outlined by Torah commentaries. Some say that the reason we are obligated to make a hishtadlus is in order to cover up the miracle that Hashem does everything, and it almost looks like we are doing something now, and now we have the opportunity to exercise our emunah, our belief that it is actually not our action making it happen. And there are many other similar types of reasons, but ultimately the correct answer to the question of why Hashem commanded us to do hishtadlus is because we do not need to understand the answer.
Just like we don't understand Hashem's ways and His greatness in so many areas, in the same vein, we cannot expect to understand Hashem's calculations in why He commanded us to perform this mitzvah of hishtadlus, even though, as the Mesillas Yesharim points out, it does not in any way affect our final result, it is just paying a tax and fulfilling our obligation. We are also to remember the words of the Sefer HaChinuch that the Chofetz Chaim brings in his classic commentary, the Biur Halacha, right at the beginning, where the Sefer HaChinuch writes that if we believe that anything else has any form of power in addition to Hashem, even if we're believing 99% is in Hashem's hands, but 1% is in my hands to achieve the desired result, or 1% is in my boss's hands, or the circumstances' hands. If we believe that 99% of the situation is in Hashem's hands, but just 1% is in some ulterior power, that is classified as idol worship, Avoid Azara.
That is why it is so important to highlight that although there is a commandment to perform the mitzvah of hishtadlus, making our own effort, it is also so important to highlight the dangers of doing hishtadlus if we have the wrong perspective. Thank you Hashem for teaching me that my ultimate purpose in this world is to live a life of emunah and bitachon. Thank you Hashem for commanding me to fulfill the mitzvah of hishtadlus, making my own effort, but nevertheless giving me guidance from your Torah in how to remain with the right perspective, the perspective of emunah.
