Investing in Avodas Hashem
The Divrei Yechezkel (Shinov) zt'l writes that by watching how people are involved in their parnassah with all their heart and soul, you can learn how you should be devoted to avodas Hashem. This is the meaning of the words תרומה לי ויקחו. The Torah is urging every Yid to elevate himself and become more spiritual. (תרומה means to elevate oneself.) But how can one do so? How can one train himself to be devoted to avodas Hashem? The answer is לבו ידבנו אשר איש כל מאת, copy the people who vigorously pursue their parnassah. They work so hard, by day and by night. You should do the same in avodas Hashem. They are working to succeed in this temporary world, so you should certainly work as hard in avodas Hashem, where the reward is eternal.
The Chasam Sofer (Toras Moshe, Ki Seitzei, או ה"ד יאמר) writes this lesson on the words (Tehillim 119:98) לי היא לעולם כי מצותיך תחכמני מאויבי. He writes, "The mitzvos are לעולם, forever. If a person works so hard to get a bit of pleasure in this world, a fleeting moment of earthly enjoyment, certainly one should toil to earn a mitzvah, for it is eternal."
Avodas Hashem is for Us
The Zohar (Chadash 7:) writes, "Klal Yisrael gives parnassah to their Father in heaven." The Nefesh HaChaim (2:6) explains that just as food makes the connection between body and neshamah (and without food, the neshamah departs), similarly, the Zohar teaches, Hashem's connection to the world is from the mitzvos that Klal Yisrael perform.
The Divrei Yisrael zt'l (Kedoshim) writes in the name of his grandfather, Rebbe Yechezkel of Kozmir zt'l that this Zohar refers to our generation as well. Even today, we (keviyachol) give Hashem parnassah with our good deeds. "Whoever doesn't say so is a fool. We are running Hashem's store. In the past, it was a big store, and there was an abundance of parnassah. But today, it is up to us to give Hashem parnassah. If not from us, then from where does Hashem get His parnassah? From the Arabs? From the descendants of Eisav? Even if our parnassah is minimal, nevertheless, we are giving keviyachol, to Hashem today."
On the words (25:2) תרומה לי ויקחו, the Saraf of Mogalentza zt'l explains that Hashem requests that we should elevate Him (keviyachol) with our good deeds. (תרומתי Means to elevate.) And don't think that Hashem asks this only from the great tzaddikim. Rather, תרומתי את תקחו ...איש כל מאת, Hashem wants to be elevated by every Yid. The Saraf of Mogalentza explains that Hashem knew from the beginning of time that this generation would come to the world, and He wanted our avodah. This tells us that every Yid and every generation has the potential to elevate Hashem (keviyachol) when they perform His service.
The Midrash (Shemos Rabba 34:1) writes on the pasuk (25:10) שיטים עצי ארון ועשו, "Hakadosh Baruch Hu never requests from His creations more than they can do. When Hashem gave them the Torah at Har Sinai, He came to them according to their strength. This is as it states (Tehillim 29:4) בכח 'ה קול, according to the strength of each individual. Also, when Hakadosh Baruch Hu told Moshe to build a Mishkan, Moshe wondered, 'Hashem's honor fills the upper and the lower worlds, and He is asking for a Mishkan?! [How can we possibly build a Mishkan sufficient for Hashem to dwell there?].' Hakadosh Baruch Hu replies, 'I do not intend as you think. I am asking for twenty kerashim (planks) on the north side, twenty on the southern side, and eight to the west. And...I will bring the Shechinah to dwell within a square amah (of the Kodesh HaKadoshim).'"
This is an important lesson: Hashem doesn't expect from us more than we can do, and our limited abilities are sufficient in Hashem's eyes.
The Chasam Sofer (Toras Moshe ידבנו אשר ה"ד) discusses the nesi'im who wanted to bring precious stones for the choshen (which were needed for the service in the Mishkan), but how was it possible to obtain them in the desert? With all their heart, the nesi'im wanted to bring this donation to Hashem, so Hashem helped them. Chazal tell us that the gems fell from heaven along with the manna. When we want to serve Hashem, Hashem helps us succeed. The Chasam Sofer said that this is alluded to in the words, לבו ידבנו אשר, all you need to do is to desire and yearn to serve Hashem, and that will be enough. Miraculously, Hashem will grant you siyata d'shmaya, and you will succeed.