The verse in Megillat Ruth states that when Ruth decided to convert and become a part of the Jewish nation, Boaz told her: “May Hashem reward your actions and may your remuneration be complete from Hashem, G-d of Israel, since you have come to bask under his wings.”
We must understand the purpose in Boaz’s redundancy by saying, “May Hashem reward your actions” after which he said, “And may your remuneration be complete.” It seems that these terms are one and the same that Hashem would reward Ruth for her pious actions and by default, her remuneration would then be complete!
We can explain this idea based on what is written in the Sefer Kol Yaakov (quoted by Maran Shlit”a in his Ma’or Yisrael, Derashot, page 176):
The Mishnah in Avot states: “The reward of a Mitzvah is another Mitzvah.” The Rambam explains: “One should know that there is no greater reward and pleasure even in this world than the pleasure and sweetness of the Mitzvah itself. This pleasure is even more unimaginable in the World to Come. Nevertheless, most people do not feel the sweetness of the Mitzvot and the great satisfaction hidden in their observance in this world. The reason for this is because in this world, the soul is intertwined with a body which is completely materialistic and dirt-based and therefore, the soul does not feel the sweetness of the Mitzvot. This idea is similar to an individual who loses his sense of taste due to an illness; the same applies to illnesses of the soul which results in a lack of feeling for the sweetness of the Mitzvot.”
The following is a parable that illustrates this point: Once a man saw that a friend of his was upset. He approached his friend and asked him, “What is the matter?” His friend replied, “My only son has been ill for the past three days and he has no appetite to eat at all.”
The man went to meet with his friend’s son and he asked him, “Why are you causing your father, who loves you so much, so much pain?” He continued to persuade the child and he promised him ten gold coins if he would agree to eat the food that he would be served. This is indeed what happened and the child ate some of the food and even ate a small piece of meat for a paltry sum of ten gold coins.
When the child was finished eating, the man returned to his friend, the boy’s father and told him, “My friend, I have great news for you! I was able to convince your son to happily eat some food.” The boy’s father answered, “Tell me exactly how you were able to convince him.” The man proceeded to recount the entire incident.
The father replied, “On the contrary, my good friend. This just shows how ill my son actually is if he had to be persuaded with such a large sum of ten gold coins in order to eat food which is good and tasty for other people.”
Based on this parable, we can understand the meaning of the teaching of our Sages, “Do not be like servants who serve their master in order to receive reward,” meaning that one should strive to achieve a level where he feels enjoyment from the very performance of the Mitzvot even without taking into consideration the reward in store for him in the World to Come. This idea is similar to the boy in the parable, who, after being healed, will once again enjoy the taste of the tasty foods served to him even without being rewarded with ten gold coins.
This is what Boaz meant to tell Ruth: Although you might have heard that “Hashem will reward your actions,” i.e. that you will be rewarded by Hashem for your Mitzvah performance in the World to Come. However, bear in mind that “Your remuneration be complete from Hashem,” meaning that the actual observance of the Mitzvah should serve as reward for you by joyfully performing the Mitzvot and coming to bask in the glory of Hashem’s presence.
Chag Sameach and Tizku Le’Shanim Rabbot Ne’Imot Ve’Tovot
