The Power of Joy in Mitzvot: Why Happiness Unlocks Spiritual and Material Blessings

The performance of mitzvot (commandments and good deeds) are an integral part of Jewish observance, and many wonder if there is a difference between performing a mitzvah with joy vs. out of obligation.

Mitzvot bring about spiritual reward in the World to Come, as well as the potential for tangible material blessings in this world. Who is eligible to receive physical blessings in this life as a result of their mitzvot, and who is not?

The purpose of material reward for mitzvot in this world is to provide the person with tools and resources that help them continue to serve G-d. Earthly blessings aren’t given as a “prize,” but to empower a person to do more good, which is what ultimately elevates the soul and earns eternal reward.

When a person serves G-d with joy and a willing heart, G-d may remove hardships, and grant the individual peace and abundance, so that their time and energy can be devoted to learning and spiritual growth, without being consumed by distractions. The goal of material blessing is therefore to support one’s spiritual mission, and if a person uses it for that purpose, they become worthy of continued blessing in this world.

However, not every person receives that type of reward. If a person is in a spiritual state where material success would likely pull them away from their values or priorities, then heaven withholds the blessing. Reward in this world is given only when it will lead to more good. If it will do the opposite, such as fuel distractions or ego, it is withheld for the person’s own spiritual benefit.

How can we know if material success would actually help or harm a person spiritually? The answer lies in the degree of joy a person feels when doing mitzvot.

Let’s explore this through a story from the book of Nehemiah. After seventy years of exile, the Jewish people returned from Babylon and gathered on Rosh Hashanah to hear the Torah read publicly. When they realized how far they had drifted from G-d’s path, they began to cry, but their leaders, Nehemiah and Ezra, told them: “This day is sacred to the Lord your G-d. Do not mourn or weep...Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet beverages, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Our sages explain the verse “the joy of the Lord is your strength” to mean that the blessings of success and reward in this world depend on the joy with which we serve G-d (see Rashi and Tosafot on Beitzah 15; Rambam in Laws of Shofar, Sukkah, and Lulav ch. 8; and Laws of Teshuvah ch. 9).

Rashi explains that this joy isn’t just emotional, but is transformative. When you serve G-d with joy, it becomes your strength and it enables you to pay off your debts and to rise above your struggles. That joyful mindset draws down material help from above.

Why does joy trigger blessing?

When someone serves G-d joyfully, it demonstrates that they truly desire to do good and their heart is in it. When they receive blessing, they’ll naturally use it to do more good that supports their values and spiritual growth. If however someone performs mitzvot as a burden, without joy, it reveals that their heart is elsewhere and their true desires lie outside the realm of Torah and mitzvot. If they were given material blessings, those would likely go toward satisfying those other desires. Withholding physical reward from such a person is actually an act of kindness as it protects them from spiritual harm.

Put simply, joy is the clearest sign of spiritual alignment. It’s the signal of whether a person’s inner drive is to grow and serve, or not. When someone experiences joy in doing good, it reveals their priorities, and makes them a fitting vessel for abundance that will be used for even greater good.

The key to receiving material blessing in this world is doing mitzvot with joy. Joy unlocks the flow of divine support, and reflects a heart that is eager to grow and deserving of blessing.