Rashi explains this to mean that we should be עמלים בתורה., that we should toil in Torah for the principal part is the work that we put into it.
In the Hadran which we say upon concluding a mesechta, we state, “we work & they work, we work & get reward & they work & don't get reward.” The Chafetz Chaim asks, is that true? Have we ever seen a shoemaker that made shoes & didn't get paid for his work or a tailor that makes a suit that didn't get paid? Everyone gets paid for his work not just the one who studies Torah!
He explains that if one were to hire a craftsman to make something & the man works day & night. If in the end he doesn't produce the right product, no matter how much work went into it, he won't get paid. However, learning Torah doesn't work like that, for we get reward just for the work involved in studying. If we toil, even if we don't fully understand or don't do the mitzva properly, we still get credit for the effort.
How does one reconcile this with the gemara that says שכר מצוה בהאי עלמא ליכא , that there is no reward for mitzvos on this world? Our posuk explicitly states that if you go in my ways you will have plenty!
The כתב סופר differentiates between two different rewards; the reward for the actual mitzva will be in the future in the next world, however, the reward for the work & the effort one puts in will be in this world.
What can we do to assure ourselves of meriting reward for effort in this world? How do we know if we’re really working?
Perhaps an analogy by Rav Nachum Zev of Kelm could help us understand this. There was a group of friends sitting around the table. As long as everyone is sitting, eating & drinking, everyone seems the same. Finally, all but one leave. At first, one wonders why didn't he get up & go with his friends.
Upon closer examination, he sees that the man has no legs. At the table, everyone seemed the same but once they leave one can see the difference. So, too, with us; when we are all together, one doesn't see much of a difference between us. However, when we exit our safe environment & go into the world, then we see who still walks with the Torah & who allows it to fall by the wayside.
That's why the posuk says, אם בחקתי תלכו , if you walk in my ways. When we get up from the table & walk in the world, will we be walking in the way of Hashem? Hopefully we are which translates into toiling in the Torah for which we will be granted all the berachos that Hashem has to offer!
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