The Rambam in Parshat Vayakhel (35:21) makes an interesting observation. He notes that none of Benei Yisrael were trained in the various crafts, or skills necessary to build a mishkan. Moreover, in his commentary on Parshat Ki Tissa (31:2) he notes that the difficult physical labor in Egypt hardly prepared them for the delicate detailed craftsmanship involved in building the mishkan. What enables the former slaves to succeed was their "nediv lev" , their motivated spirit, and their absolute determination to implement God's command. the "nesias lev" , the inspired heart, was the necessary prerequisite for the job. Once man takes the initiative in the realm of spirituality, Hashem completes and implements the mission.
On the pasuk, "Moshe counted their [the Levites] according to the word of Hashem," (Bamidbar 3:16) Rashi teaches that Moshe was troubled as to how he would succeed in counting the Leviim from the age of 30 days. Could he possibly enter each tent and count the number of suckling infants? Thereupon Hashem said to him, "You do yours and I will do mine." Moshe stood outside the entrance of each tent and a bat-kol, a heavenly voice, proclaimed the number of male children in each tent. One could ask: if the census was coming from the bat-kol, why did Moshe have to go from tent to tent? The answer is: he had to do his part and only then did Hashem finish.
The Chafetz Chaim zt"l in his commentary on the beginning of ParshatTerumah (25:8) quotes that Moshe was troubled as to how Benei Yisrael could make a dwelling place for the Shechina - Divine presence-? How, in keeping with Parshat Shekalim, they could offer a redemption for their souls? Hashem responds in essence -you do yours- open for Me as little as the eye of a needle and I will respond with a great response, providing that your initiative is an expression of your maximum potential.
Rav Yerucham Levoitz zt"l , Mashgiach of the Mirrer Yeshiva, cites the following medrash (Devarim Rabbah 5:2) to inspire man to great initiatives: The wise King Solomon (Mishle 6:6) teaches, "Go to the ant, you lazy individual, note his ways and become wise."What are we to learn from the behavior of an ant? The Rabbis note that the life span of the ant is but 6 months. The amount of food that the ant needs for its entire lifetime is 1.5 grains of wheat. Yet, the an \t spends its life accumulating 300 kur., excessively more than it needs. It reasons that perhaps Hashem will grant me longevity, and I will have the food readily available. Note the drive and initiative of the ant ; this is what man is to learn to emulate.
Rav Kook zt"l explained the verse in Mishle (29:4) "Through justice a king establishes a land, but - veish trumos- a man of graft tears it down." The ish trumos he explained to be the one who follows the minimal law regarding terumah (the gift that the Jewish landowner is obligated to give to the kohen) "chitah achat poteret et ha-kri", one grain given to the kohen is sufficient to satisfy the biblical obligation. However, this minimalistic approach to one's endeavors and especially their spirituality will lead to ultimate failure and dissatisfaction.
Too often people make a great error: They think it's God's responsibility to inspire man. The trouble is that He does, as David teaches in Psalm 19, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse of the sky tells of his handiwork." But even if one does not clearly perceive Hashem in nature it is mans' calling to take that first step. Then Hashem will carry him over the large, seemingly impassable abyss.