| "Better is a handful of quietness, than both hands full of labor with futility." (Kohelles 4:6)
The Midrash extrapolates this verse as follows:"The Holy One, May He be Blessed said, 'The handful of flour that the poor brings as his Minchah (i.e., a handful of flour) offering is more beloved to Me than the handful of incense that the High Priest offers before Me in the Temple service. HaShem favors the offering of the poor person because his offering renders atonement, whereas the incense offering of the High Priest does not render atonement. In light of this, our Sages (Menachos 104b) teach that of all the various offerings only regarding the Minchah offering does the Torah state "the soul that offers". Since the poor man who can only afford flour brings the Minchah offering, HaShem considers his offering as if he actually gave his life to HaShem. Therefore, the verse states, "the soul that offers", i.e., HaShem considers it as if he gave Him his soul. Whereas the incense offered by the High Priest was purchased with public funds. HaShem considers the willingness of the poor man to give of the little bit that he has - as if he gave his very life - to HaShem. Therefore, HaShem values the great personal sacrifice of the poor man and decrees that his Minchah offering should render atonement. While even though the incense offering of the High Priest is highly pleasing to HaShem, nevertheless, it does not render atonement because the High Priest did not suffer any personal expenditure. We may think that our service is insignificant in contrast to the awesome deeds of others. However, the Torah reveals that HaShem empathizes, values, and rewards every sacrifice that each one of us makes on His behalf. May this insight of HaShem's acknowledgement and care of our devotion inspire us to rejoice in all of the Mitzvos that we do. [Based on the commentary of the Torah Temimah to Kohelles] | 
