Parshas Bereishis (Machar Chodesh) 5787
ויברך אלקים את יום השביעי ויקדש אתו כי בו שבת מכל מלאכתו אשר ברא אלקים לעשות ... (ב-ג)
It would seem that the word "לעשות" is superfluous. R’ Chaim Kanievsky zt”l explains this based on a מדרש תנחומא in Parshas Tazria. טורנוסרופוס הרשע asked Rabbi Akiva: Whose actions are greater, Hashem’s or humans (fully expecting him to respond that Hashem’s were greater)? He was flabbergasted when Rabbi Akiva answered: Man’s actions are greater. He then asked Rabbi Akiva: Why do your people circumcise themselves? Rabbi Akiva answered: I expected that to be your next question, and laid the groundwork with my previous response; and that’s why I told you man’s actions are greater than G-d’s.
Rabbi Akiva then brought out rolls, breads, pastries and wheat kernels, and rhetorically asked: Which is more desirable? So you see, said Rabbi Akiva, that Hashem created His world intentionally leaving room for mankind to perfect it. So too, our bodies were created incomplete, and by removing the ערלה, we become complete. That, said R’ Chaim, is what the posuk can be saying. Hashem created the world - "לעשות". He wants us to work at it and complete it.
Perhaps we can offer another pshat based on a מחשבה of the Alter of Kelm cited by R’ Moshe Shmuel Shapiro zt”l. Chazal state that Hashem was creating mankind until the moment Shabbos commenced, and He stopped, mid-project. That non-completed form became a שד, a demon. Asked the Alter, if Hashem knew that He wouldn’t be able to complete that task and a treacherous being would be created, why did He even start? It was a lesson for us! One must utilize each minute he has, even if he won’t fully complete the mission! Maybe that’s what the posuk is saying "לעשות". Just do. Don’t think of the end result. If you have the time to try and achieve something ... GO FOR IT! Do not stand by idly, not even attempting to start.
As our new year תשפ"ז begins, let’s internalize these concepts to remember that Hashem left room for our improvements and betterments to His world; and to do our best to use any and all opportunities regardless of the end result!