The Torah commands us, “You will eat, you will be satisfied, and you shall bless,” teaching us the obligation of Birkat Hamazon. The Talmud asks: how do we know that we must bless before eating? It reasons that if we must bless after eating, certainly we should bless before eating.
Yet when it comes to Torah study, the reasoning seems reversed. We know there is a blessing before learning Torah, and the Talmud derives the obligation to bless afterward from that. Why?
Perhaps the difference is the nature of pleasure. In the physical world, anticipation can be greater than the actual experience. We see delicious food and imagine how satisfying it will be, but the reality often doesn't match the excitement. The “sizzle” can seem better than the steak.
Spirituality can be the opposite. Learning Torah or helping someone may require effort, and we may not feel much excitement beforehand. But afterward, we can experience a deep sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
The lesson is powerful: in physical pleasures, the sizzle may be better than the steak. In spiritual pursuits, the steak is better than the sizzle.