Don’t Judge Others with Different Gifts than You
The wonderful thing about how God made us all creative is that each and every one of us expresses our creativity differently. From differences in our innate talents, differences in our creative journey and the skills we’ve picked up from that, to differences in ability levels, God has created and fostered each and every one of us uniquely. And that is beautiful! Each one of us as a specific role to play in the Kingdom and God has equipped us for it!
However, while God’s design for creative variations is good and wonderful, humanity’s fallen nature often turns that blessing into friction, jealousy, and judgement…
The Godly Override, Part 2: The Value of No Talent
A big, forever ongoing debate in the creative community is nature vs. nurture. Talent vs. practice. Which one is the true reason some people are insanely good at what they create? Is talent enough to get by most of the time, or do you need practice? Can you get good at something through practice alone? If you are untalented in something, does that mean you can never, ever be good at it, even with all the practice in the world?
Do Not Idolize Your Gifts
Your gifts are amazing. Your ability to draw, to write, to tell stories, to bake, to craft, to dance, to make music, to solve complex mathematical problems, see scientific solutions, or whatever other, creative gift God has given you, is amazing. That is a true fact, because God is a good and diligent God to us and to our purpose in His Kingdom. And you should acknowledge that fact; acknowledge that your gifts are spectacular, just like the God who gave them to you.
Now, this kind of confidence comes with a very big warning: do not idolize your gifts.
It’s Important to Nurture Your Gift(s)
Sometimes it’s easier to say “I have a talent in this, but it’s just a hobby” or “I wish I had more time to develop this skill, but I am so busy” than it is to actually go do the thing. It’s easier to let the creativity slide than it is to build that creative skill that God has given us. Sometimes we even like to brag “Ah, yes, I have this creative talent” without actually ever exercising it or thinking about it except when we’re trying to show off.
Finding Your Gift
For some people it is easy. For others, there is a calling to create, but no clue where to even begin. For others, they have been pursuing various creative avenues, but each and every one of them has reached a dead-end. They know they are called to create, but exactly what their creative gift (whether talent or skill) feels like its trying to hide.
Being a Bezalel
The first Biblically recorded instance of a person being gifted the Holy Spirit is Bezalel. If you are unsure of who that is, you are not alone! He was no great prophet like Moses, or mighty man like Samson, and he wasn’t one of the Twelve Disciples or a member of Paul’s ministry. No, Bezalel was a craftsman.
What Do We Mean By ‘Gifts from God’?
As stated previously, this season of ECC is going to focus on the idea of gifts from God. However, there is one little piece of clarification that needs to be made before continuing: these are not spiritual gifts. The New Testament is filled with verses on spiritual gifts, such as kindness, patience, prophecy, mercy, etc., which are not what we are going to be discussing during this blog series.
Encouraging Christian Creatives, Season 2: Gifts and Talents
Hello, dear reader!
Welcome to the second season of Encouraging the Christian Creative! I am so excited to dive into this next season and pray that God will be glorified in it!
Don't Be Arrogant About Your Talents
Pride is one of the sneakiest sins. It creeps into everything, it’s sometimes hard to spot, and it causes a whole host of other sins and worries. Pride can even worm into our initially good intentions and cause major issues when we think we’re glorifying God!
Everything We Do is for the Praise and Glory of God
Everything we do, we need to do it for the praise and glory of God.
Everything.
But I Have No Confidence!
That’s okay.
Wait…aren’t you supposed to tell me I need more confidence in myself?
Nope, you don’t need it, Christian creative!
God Has a Plan for You
So, you’ve been created, you’ve got Jesus in your heart, and you have a drive, set of talents, or abilities that you want to use for some grand purpose…now what?
God Gives People Talents and Abilities
If God has a task He wants done on this Earth, He gets it done. Sometimes He uses miracles that only He can perform (manna from heaven, Exodus 16; raising Lazarus, John 11), sometimes He uses plagues brought about from His wrath [the famous 10 against Egypt, Exodus 7-12; tumors against the people of Ashdod, 1 Samuel 5:6], and sometimes He uses people.