Diligence in Your Gifts
Here is a fun fact: a Christian being creative for the glory of God is an act of worship. That’s right, worship does not have to just be singing hymns in church on Sundays! When God created us in His image, one of the things He gave us was a sense of creativity, much like what He used to speak the entire universe into existence (if on a much, much, much smaller scale). Engaging in a creative project — particularly in the specific flavor of creativity that God has directed you towards — and dedicating it to the Lord is worshipping God.
This said, there is a key element to creativity-as-worship that needs to be discussed: diligence. Whether it be diligence in your creativity, diligence in your craft, diligence in the job that God has set before you to pursue, you, dear Christian creative, should be diligent. It is a huge part of how you can worship God through your creativity!
But what, exactly, is “diligence”?
Merriam-Webster defines diligence as:
“steady, earnest, and energetic effort : devoted and painstaking work and application to accomplish an undertaking”
So it is, essentially, a type of devotion, utilizing time, energy, and attention. It is focusing on the craft, giving as much of yourself to it as you can (within reason! Burnout is real!), and ensuring the highest-quality product possible. It is meeting deadlines, it is collaborating with others when called to do so, it is showing up to the project, it is learning and studying new techniques, it is taking advice when needed, it is carving out intentional time to work on said project. It is also praying for wisdom and God’s guidance.
It is not:
Grumbling and complaining.
Only ever working on things based on your “mood” (i.e. “I’m just too tired” or “meh, I don’t feel like it”).
Bouncing from project to project with no real goal.
Missing deadlines, meetings, and appointments.
Ad-libbing far beyond the structure you have been given (in the case of a professional project).
Leaving piles and piles of unfinished projects laying around with no intention to return to them.
Now, there is plenty of wiggle room in all of these things. There is a difference, for example, between a sketch that doesn’t necessarily need to be finished and the page of a comic book God has called you to write, which does. Also, sometimes you are facing a lot of burnout and need to shift gears towards a different project of creative pursuit for a while. That is okay! The point of diligence is not being the perfect little creative machine, but it is a mindset of “I am doing this for the Lord, so I am going to put my best effort in”, whatever that best effort may look like.
Which brings up another good point: diligence does look somewhat different from person to person. For example, a writer who is being paid to write is likely going to have a more consistent schedule than someone who is trying to pursue writing and work a full-time job and raise a family and renovate their home. The same thing can be said for people with chronic health issues, or family members that need tending to, or church events they are in charge of. Diligence is, once again, a mindset. There are definitely some key behaviors that indicate someone is being diligent, but there is no, single one way to be diligent in creativity.
One last element of diligence that needs to be mentioned: being diligent to what God has specifically called you to do. It may be a particular project, or a type of creativity, or a unique medium, or a minute little detail in the WIP you are currently working on; the best way that you can worship the Lord is by being diligent to obey Him.
Putting it Into Action
Take some time this week and ask yourself “am I being diligent in the gifts, talents, and projects that God has given me to work on?” and have God search your heart for the answer. In all likelihood, it will be a bit mixed. In some areas you feel like you are being really diligent, in others not so much. Take some time to look at areas where you think you could be more diligent and try to come up with a way to change your mindset.
If, however, you realize that diligence has not been your word of the day for a really, really long time, the first step would be to repent, then lay your creativity at the Cross. Reframe your entire mindset that your creativity is not about fulfilling your own desires, but is a noble sacrifice and form of worship for the Most High King. And, then, have grace with yourself while you put an effort into incorporating diligence into your everyday creativity!
“Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.”
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
