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Why does Avos tell us not to serve Hashem (ה׳) for reward when the Mesilat Yesharim says our purpose is to earn reward in the World to Come? The shiur develops the distinction between serving purely for personal benefit versus recognizing that mitzvos have intrinsic spiritual value that creates real closeness with Hashem. We should focus on the meaningful spiritual accomplishment of each mitzvah (מצוה) rather than viewing our service as mere busywork done only to justify receiving reward.
The shiur begins with Parshas Emor's mitzvah (מצוה) of oso v'es beno (not slaughtering an animal and its offspring on the same day) and shiluach haken (sending away the mother bird), examining the Mishna's prohibition against saying in prayer that just as Hashem (ה׳) has mercy on birds, He should have mercy on us. The Gemara (גמרא) offers two reasons for this prohibition: either it causes jealousy among creations or it makes Hashem's decrees into mercy when they are really gezeiros (divine decrees). The Rambam (רמב"ם) holds that while this Mishna represents one opinion that mitzvos have no apparent reasons, the accepted halacha (הלכה) follows other sages who say mitzvos do have revealed reasons. The Ramban (רמב"ן) explains that these mitzvos aren't because Hashem has mercy on animals, but rather to instill the trait of mercy within us - all mitzvos are ultimately for our benefit, not because Hashem has needs. The discussion then turns to the Mesilat Yesharim's fundamental teaching that a person's obligation in this world is to take pleasure in Hashem and bask in His presence - we were created for pleasure, specifically the ultimate pleasure of closeness to God in the World to Come. This world serves as preparation for that reward through fulfilling mitzvos. However, this creates a philosophical problem: if Hashem's purpose in commanding mitzvos is to reward us, why does the Mishna in Pirkei Avos (Antigonus Ish Socho) tell us not to serve like slaves who work for reward, but rather like slaves who serve without expectation of reward?
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Parshas Emor - mitzvos of oso v'es beno and shiluach haken
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