Purity of Motives in Avodas Hashem

AI summary (may contain mistakes)

Is purity of motive a switch, either fully for the right reasons or simply self-serving? Rashi's second pshat on the brachos of Lech Lecha points to motives, the heart of that nisayon. The yetzer hara pushes an all-or-nothing picture, but human motives are far more complex. Most avodah happens in our thoughts and in refining our middos, with the maaseh as the baseline, and the share of pure motive keeps changing as a person grows.

Key points

• The yetzer hara tries to make purity of motives seem all or nothing, like a switch.
• The Vilna Gaon called ours a religion of laws, yet his writings are mostly internal workings.
• Most avodah happens in our thoughts, with the maaseh as the baseline beneath it.

Topics

• Avodas Hashem
• Lech Lecha