We conclude Chapter 8 of the Mesilat Yesharim in today’s lesson. The Ramchal tells us that one of the best ways to get ourselves enthusiastic about fulfilling the Mitzvot is simply to consider God’s kindnesses to us.
Whether we are wealthy or poor, strong or sickly – God has sustained us until now, and it is this that we need to look at to realise that perhaps we really need to “give back”. Though we cannot give anything to God, the least we can do is to fulfill His will. We do this through the study of His Torah and the fulfillment of His Mitzvot.
These feelings of appreciation should stir us on to being excited in fulfilling the Mitzvot.
The Ramchal concludes the chapter by showing us the parallel points between Zerizut – enthusaism – and Zehirut – Watchfulness. Though one (Watchfulness) refers to refraining from the negative, and the other (Zeal) refers to becoming actively involved in the positive, essentially they contain the same make-up to themselves. We use the very same techniques in acquiring and mastering the trait of Watchfulness as we do in acquiring and mastering the trait of Zeal.
