G‑d then taught Moses the laws regarding the employment of Jewish servants. If a Jewish thief is convicted of stealing something and cannot pay back the value of what he has stolen, the court can hire him out as a servant, using the proceeds of this “sale” to pay off his debts. Also, if a Jewish man has no other way of supporting himself, he can hire himself out as a servant. In either case, the “master” is required to treat the servant humanely, properly feeding and clothing him, and is not allowed to give him demoralizing jobs to do.
The Purpose of Reward
לֹא תִרְדֶּה בוֹ בְּפָרֶךְ וגו': (ויקרא כה:מג)
[G‑d instructed Moses to tell the Jewish people, “When someone is your bondman,] you must not work him with backbreaking labor.” Leviticus 25:43

Working without purpose is demoralizing and can even drive a person insane, whereas working for a constructive purpose – even if the task requires great effort – is richly rewarding. The satisfaction that results from accomplishment can be greater even than the satisfaction from the actual wages.

The efforts we are required to expend in studying the Torah and fulfilling G‑d’s commandments may be great, but we have been taught that our efforts here below have profound influence on the cosmic realm above. Keeping this knowledge in mind enables us to study the Torah and fulfill G‑d’s commandments with enthusiasm, joy, and purpose.1