The Hidden Mitzvah

The Chofetz Chaim once traveled with a Talmid in a taxi cab. After paying the driver, the Chofetz Chaim pointed out to the Talmid that he just did a Mitzah.

“What Mitzvah?” the Talmid asked, “He provided a service, so I had to pay him!”

The Chofetz Chaim explained:
You just fulfilled the Mitzvah of ביומו תתן שכרו, to pay a day-laborer on the day he did the work for you.

Rabbi Chananya Ben Akashia said:
רצה הקב"ה לזכות את ישראל לפיכך הרבה להם תורה ומצוות
Hashem wanted to give us opportunities to be meritorious (or, to refine us), therefore He gave us many Mitzvos. (Makos 23b)

How fortunate we are, for Hashem has hidden Mitzvos - opportunities to get closer to him - even in the “mundane”, everyday activities we would be engaging in anyways.

By setting out intention to this reality, and recognizing the Mitzvos already "built-in" to our day, our days become charged with a G-dly energy and Hashem showers us and our endeavors with success.

And even those activities that are not literal, "listed" Mitzvos (e.g. eating, shopping, etc.) can still be done with the intention of supporting our Tafkid...

But watch out! It is specifically in these areas that the Yetzer Hara tries his hardest to hijack our activities for his agenda.

Let us stay the course... Hashem is on our side.

The Yetzer Hara doesn't stand a chance.