Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
The mitzvah of Bikkurim teaches us to dedicate not only our possessions, but also our finest abilities, to serving Hashem (God). Each person’s distinctive talents point toward a personal mission and opportunities to help and inspire others.
Bikkurim: Bringing the First and the Best
This week’s Torah reading begins with the Mitzvah (commandment) of Bikurim. When the Bais Hamikdash (Holy Temple) was standing, one was commanded to bring annually to the Bais Hamikdash a special offering of the first fruits to be produced that year (if he had an eligible crop). Rabeinu B’chayey writes that the Mitzvah was not only to bring the first fruits, but also the best.
Using Your Talents for Hashem
Although unfortunately we cannot perform this Mitzvah nowadays, Rabeinu B’chayey writes that the concept of this Mitzvah is very much applicable to us to be performed in other areas in a similar manner. The verse states (Proverbs 3:9), “Honor Hashem from your wealth.” Rabeinu B’chayey explains that this principle is not strictly referring to honoring Hashem with one’s money, but with any wealth in any area a person has. It is incumbent upon a person to utilize any special talent he possesses for the service of Hashem. If a person is a good orator, he should make sure to use this talent to inspire others. If he has a knack for understanding people, he should find opportunities to help people with their emotions. A person who has a good sense of humor should be looking to cheer others up.
Navos and the Responsibility of a Gift
This concept is not just a nice idea, but an actual responsibility, as demonstrated in the following story, told in the Book of Kings I (chapter 21): Ach’av the evil king set his eyes upon the vineyard of Navos Hayize’ely, which was in close proximity to the royal palace. He tried to persuade Navos to sell him the vineyard, but Navos refused under all conditions. Ach’av was so upset that he refused to eat. When his wife Izevel saw how distraught he was, she conspired to frame Navos and get him executed. They hired false witnesses who testified that Navos committed a crime deserving of the death penalty. Ach’av subsequently confiscated the vineyard for himself. The Medrash (Yalkut Shim’oni on the verse above, 932) adds insight into what was going on behind the scenes and says as follows: “Chiya, the nephew of Rabbi Elazar Hakapar, possessed a beautiful voice, and his uncle, Rabbi Elazar told him, ‘Get up and honor Hashem with what he gave you! (In other words, he should step forward and honor Hashem with his unique talent by using his gorgeous voice to pray out loud at the pulpit in front of the congregation.) Navos was blessed with a beautiful voice and he would go up to Jerusalem to pray out loud, and all of Israel would gather to listen to his inspiring voice. One time, (during one of the holidays when we are commanded to make a pilgrimage to the Bais Hamikdash, when it was standing,) he failed to come up to Jerusalem, and wicked people testified against him falsely that he committed a crime punishable by death, and he was lost from this world. What caused him to suffer such a consequence? Because he did not go up to Jerusalem to honor Hashem with what He gave him.'”
Your Talent Points to Your Mission
This thought is both frightening and inspiring. Some of us are more talented than others; but everyone has a unique area in which he excels. The special talent one possesses is a call from Heaven directing him to a special mission. Every person has a special task in life, designated specifically for him, in bringing honor to Hashem, and his talents are his equipment to be able to shine in the capacity reserved for him. Almost every talent can be used to bring more glory to the name of Hashem in this world if utilized properly. It is our duty to seek out these opportunities and pounce on them when they arrive. Anything you have in abundance, whether in quantity or quality, is given to you for good reason, and Hashem is counting on you to achieve great things with it. On the other hand, woe to the person who wastes his resources on foolishness and fails to carry out his personal mission in life in serving Hashem
By Rabbi Yitzchok Aryeh Strimber
