In a master-slave relationship, the master couldn’t care less about the slave’s attitude. The master has no concern whatsoever whether the slave does the task willingly or not. All that matters is the slave’s obedience and performance. The master just wants the job done.
This is not at all the case in our relationship with God. Our sages tell us that God wants our hearts. In other words, the key to acting in accordance with God’s will is that it be your heart’s desire – that you want what God wants.
God absolutely does not want religious robots. That’s the difference between being a slave to God or living in service of God. When you’re a slave, your master couldn’t care less about your feelings. He doesn’t care if you want to do what he wants or you don’t; all he cares about is the results. He doesn’t care if you love what you’re doing or you hate it; he just wants obedience. That’s slavery. As far as the master is concerned, you can be a mindless soulless loveless joyless robot. In fact, it probably better that you are.
Not so when it comes to God, God wants us to choose in a heartfelt way to want what God wants. He wants us to want good and to want to channel it into the world.
Abraham is considered to be the archetype of kindness. And yet the only story recorded in the Torah demonstrating his kindness is when he shows great hospitality to three strangers who were actually angels. Why would the only story demonstrating Abraham’s extraordinary kindness be about him giving food and drink to beings who actually don’t need any food or drink?
With this story, the Torah is teaching us that what truly matters is our desire and intention to do the will of God. Whether our desires and intentions produce results is completely in His hands.
Ultimately our only true service of God is the choice we make to want to do God’s will and genuinely try to do so. God doesn’t want mindless soulless religious robots. He wants passionate souls choosing to live His goodwill mindfully with love and joy.
