Since we have explained that it is more difficult to conquer the evil inclination to commit regular sins than to give away one’s life, so too the reward for the achievement of conquering that inclination will be greater than that of one who gives away his life for the reward depends on the difficulty of the task and the amount of pleasure caused to the Creator by the achievement. In His infinite mercy, Hashem will never abandon His followers to fight their inclinations alone. Rather, we know that all beginnings are difficult, and when one has become accustomed to go in the right way, then one’s soul loses the tendency to commit sins. Nevertheless, one still receives the reward as if it was still difficult, for the reward is calculated according to the beginning.
