When I wake up in each morning I pledge to myself to be the best I can, and every single day I fail! Why shouldn’t I just live my life, have fun and enjoy it while it lasts? Why should I be concerned about all the teachings of Judaism, even though they are ethical and good if I see that I can’t fully succeed?
Ever hear in school that you got an “E” for effort? Well, Judaism doesn’t work that way. You actually get an “A+” for your positive effort no matter what your results. And if you slip up – that just proves you’re human!
Here are a few points that one must keep in mind regarding how we are “graded” for our good and bad deeds that I hope you will find helpful.
1. The degree of punishment is proportional to the degree of sin. That means one can reduce the punishment or increase it, depending on one's actions. So there is certainly benefit to trying because it’s possible to reduce the severity and/or the duration of the punishment.
2. A person may receive suffering in this world and that will compensate and exempt him from suffering in the next world.
3. The reward and punishment are not external, arbitrary actions on the soul. They are either closeness to or distance from God. So even one who will receive punishment, if he has tried and has made attempts to come closer to God, he will be closer to God (which is the ultimate pleasure and joy) after he has been punished than one who did not try to come closer at all. This means that even after punishment, there will be a difference in the level of reward depending on one's behaviorin this world.
4. We believe that there is a reward for doing good in and of itself. One who lives a good life in the moral sense, a spiritual life and a fulfilling life, is a happier person, has better relationships with others and with himself even in this world.
5. Altruism should not be ignored. We don't always do good or avoid evil based on a mathematical reward/punishment calculation. There is reason to do good without that and there is reason to avoid evil without that calculation.
