CHAPTER 31: CREATIVITY 2023
James 1:17
New International Version
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Creativity is an amazing thing. Ideas, concepts, both simple and complex, all intuitive, brilliant and helpful. Here’s the catch. Creativity is so magnificent and what we use it for generally is no good. We come up with ways to cheat money, beat taxes, get out of trouble, get into trouble. Very seldom do we use creativity to help the church, help the poor, help the world, or help each other. I assure you God does use creativity to the finest extent. In Genesis 1 through 2, I read that God created the Heavens and the Earth. In verse 3, God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. So I thought about that for a second, and it occurred to me, He created the Heavens and the Earth first, and that was in the dark, this God is a pretty creative genius. Use your powers for good. That includes creativity. God’s creativity is sublime.
Psalm 139:13-14
New International Version
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
Abraham was blessed by God, David was blessed by God, Isaac and Jacob, blessed by God. Not one of them spoke about a 401K plan, retirement or flipping property. All of them were rich and had much time to spend listening, obeying and worshipping the Lord. And by the way, they were doing that first, before any wealth.
God’s creativity made mankind, the universe and all things in between. Why can’t we use our creativity for good things? Our knowledge and power come from Him as does our imagination.
Good might take a little longer whereas not so good seems to yield immediate “can-do” ideas. Great men of God, error and pay the price, however God looks after His children. Abraham had a good idea to tell the King that Sarah, his stunningly beautiful wife, was his sister. You see, he feared if they knew she was his wife, they would kill him and take all of his wealth, i.e. livestock, slaves, tents, and cash, cold hard cash. Rather than believe in God, that He would protect, Abraham slipped up and came up with an idea. He thought it very creative. As it turns out, it was a bad idea, the King of the land saw Sarah and took her as a wife. Long story short, God had to unwind that quickly, and had the King actually married a married woman, the land would have been cursed. No different than today, if the President married a married woman. Creative, but not so good, Abraham. And to make matters worse, Abraham did that twice, can you believe it! Both times, same thing, God fixed it. Blessed His humble goofball servant and got Abe out of trouble. Abraham did a lot of not so good ideas, and so did King David. One of which is quite famous. David had a good idea with Bathsheba, another married woman, she got pregnant and David killed her husband and married her. Again, very creative not so good. There are numerous stories of good ideas, very creative that are terrible and easy to accomplish at the time, difficult and dangerous to unwind.
The good ideas that are very good, seem to be very hard, difficult and inconvenient. God had a very good idea in Jesus, it was a very difficult for Jesus and now, in God’s grace we are saved and allowed to spend all eternity in Heaven. Think about it, when is the last time you used your creativity to think about what you can do for God?
2 Timothy 3:10-17
English Standard Version
All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God
10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom[a] you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God[b] may be complete, equipped for every good work.
For me, I used creativity to find money, property and prestige, just like everybody else. I met people, crafted deals, wrote music and motion picture scripts and sold them. Fortunately, my creativity made me just enough money to take care of my immediate needs and never made me famous. Had it made me famous, where would I be today? Have you seen some of these people, what fame has done to them?
Thankfully, God’s plan was to keep me busy, keep my mind working with just enough, not too much. And in that time, how much music, movie scripts — deal memos? So many I’ve forgotten many of them. I find notes in my files and scripts, ideas, letters, contracts — I got a check in the mail a few weeks about for a piece of music I put in a movie somewhere back there.
He works with us, like a farmer in the field. Tending to us daily, a little at a time, because too much would be overwhelming. I think I’m working to be famous, He lets me think it, while teaching me work ethic and consistency. I call it two degree adjustments. A little here, a little there the Lord works on me and you, especially if you let Him. However most of the time, before Faith and even after, we don’t let Him. If I pray at all, I pray until God sees it my way. I make promises I can’t keep, deals I shouldn’t make, then I blow it big time. Whose fault is that?
Ecclesiastes 5:4-5
New International Version
4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 5 It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.
Use your creativity to help the church, try that on for a real test of your courage. Believe me, without a steel backbone, you’ll be back to thinking about ROI, tenant buildings for rent and portfolios quicker than a jack rabbit. However, if you can stick to it, watch what He does for you. The Potter’s hand and you and me, the Potter’s clay. He was teaching me a work ethic that I use to this day. I thought I was working my way to fame and glory. I was — just not the fame and glory of Hollywood.
Psalm 27:14
New King James Version
Wait[a] on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!
Even if you’re one of those people who think you’re not creative, you are a creative. We are all creative. We must create to survive. We learn how to do things. Things we need. We learn to make food, furniture, maybe we work on our own vehicles, play music, figure out how to entertain the kids, the family, poetry, artistic drawing or painting, all of it is living and learning to live in the environment. Creativity borders on the edge of brilliance or genius. How to do math, book-keeping, build, rebuild, landscaping, woodworking, organizing, any number of everything! Is book keeping creative? Sounds like the set-up for a good joke, but it’s not — accounting is an art and those who tend to it honorably are soldiers against chaos.
I believe Creativity comes from the very breath of God. I do warn you, don’t use creativity to take advantage of ill-gotten gain.
Leviticus 25:17 New International Version 14
17 Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the Lord your God.
Be fair, work hard, don’t be jerk. Food for thought. Be careful what you do with your time and the resources God has provided. Stay with God, in God for God. Never put the gifts He’s given you above the Lord. Many of us easily put the company before God, we don’t mean to, but it happens and when it does, watch out. God will get your attention, and it won’t be pleasant. He loves you and He gets in the way of bad time management. He must be first, that is the rule.
Exodus 20
New International Version
And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before[a] me.
Hard to believe, even when you’re a believer. We get busy and all this goes to the way side — because deep down, you don’t buy it.
John 6: 63-71
63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit[a] and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.”
God made the ideas and made you to implement them, think about it, very powerful. Discover the original blueprint of you! What he meant you to be! Then get it done, complete the idea.., bring it to life. Invent with the express purpose of giving it to the Lord for His use.
Jeremiah 18:3-4
Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.
Keep bad ideas at bay, stay away from behavior that allows for such things. Selfish, deceitful, unfair, short-term, hurtful, and most importantly, not designed to do good.
1 Timothy 6:10 King James Version (KJV)
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Money is a tool, not a goal, or an end game. Remove the clutter from your life – in order to allow new vibrant goals to flourish and take shape. Revolt against mediocre and evolve. Think about yourself as a treasure chest filled with all the things that God has given you, i.e. your challenges, talents, blessings, miracles, people, places and things.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6
New International Version
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.
5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
Overcoming challenges may be one of your greatest gift and most creative!
“Every child is an Artist. The problem is staying an artist when you grow up” – Pablo Picasso
“If you hear a voice within you say, ‘You cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced” – Vincent Van Gogh
2 Corinthians 9:8
New International Version
8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Abraham, David, Samson, strong men of God in the old testament learned the consequences of misusing creativity, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego learned how to pray, the apostles learned how to follow God, Paul learned how to teach and write for the Lord. Gideon, learned to conquer a great army with just a few men, In our own time artists, Michelangelo, Van Gogh, Da Vinci learned how to create beautiful things for people to enjoy, modern medicine used correctly saves lives, pastors who run neighborhood church give hope to the hopeless, then there’s the hoodlums who learn how to hurt people, robbers who learn how to rob, politicians who learn how to lie, scripture is clear..
Acts 8:22-23
New International Version
22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
Everything is everything, my friends. Choose wisely. Creativity is a powerful tool. Use it with God. Be creative in the gifts the Lord has given you, and offer them back to Him in the service of the King — what will He show you! Ah, now that is truly the adventure of a lifetime…
Philippians 4:8
New International Version
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Amen.
