634. Fear of Heaven

Yom Kippur [Day of Atonement] September 16, 1964

“Antiganos Man of Socho complained to Shimon the Righteous … but rather be as slaves serving the rav [great one/teacher] not in order to receive reward, and the fear of heaven will be upon you” (Pirkei Avot, Chapter 1).

We should ask about the connection between “And the fear of heaven will be,” etc., and “not in order to receive reward.”

If a person works not in order to receive reward, the question is, Who obligates him to work? By nature, it is the reward that obligates one to work. If one has no intention to receive reward then who obligates him? When a servant serves the rav, it is because he has no choice, for the master governs him. But here, in the work of the Creator, it is a matter that is given to choice.

The answer to this is “and the fear of heaven will be upon you.” That is, the reason that obligates the work will be only the fear of heaven. The matter of choice pertains to the fear of heaven, as in “Everything is in the hands of heaven but the fear of heaven.” This was given to man to choose for himself his own fear of heaven, and each one has his own measure.