Exodus 35: 30 Moses then said to the Israelites: “Look, the Lord has appointed by name Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 31 He has filled him with God’s Spirit, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every kind of craft 32 to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, 33 to cut gemstones for mounting, and to carve wood for work in every kind of artistic craft. 34 He has also given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others.35 He has filled them with skill to do all the work of a gem cutter; a designer; an embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen; and a weaver. They can do every kind of craft and design artistic designs.
What I absolutely do know about myself is that I do not have the gift to be able to do any kind of craft well, much less every kind of craft. But I know some amazing people who do. These people are such a blessing to churches, families, and the community in general. I have been blessed to be emerged in the ocean, climb to the top of mountains, travel through the jungle and the desert, explore Egyptian pyramids, and solve mysteries in London-all through the artistic efforts of people gifted by God and committed to serving Him through that gift. These Vacation Bible School decorations have transformed church buildings into such fun places for the children to learn about God. I have seen church auditoriums transformed into school buses, hill-billy cabins, busy villages, stables, inns, shopping malls to provide the backdrop for musicals and plays that teach and entertain. There have been banquet decorations fit for a royal gala or totally country, totally awesome Women’s ministry decorations made from empty laundry containers, plain bathrooms transformed into magazine pictures, bare brick walls and basketball courts transformed into magnificent wedding venues, plain plastic tables and folding chairs transformed into banquet rooms, fruit jars empty pickle jars, bales of hay, pumpkins,. These amazing people work behind the scenes and all too often don’t recognize how important the things they do are to others and to the ministries of the church.
New Testament scriptures about spiritual gifts do not include craftiness. When we read the Old Testament, we sometimes skip through passages that have genealogies and other “boring details”. In the midst of the details, the specifications, blueprints of the tabernacle and its furnishing, God gives us a glimpse of how He used willing workers to make His earthly tabernacle. He provided very detailed instructions about this portable worship center. It was extremely important that everything be done exactly the way He specified. And He gave these men the wisdom, knowledge and ability to do that. He continues to use willing people to whom He gives crafting and decorating abilities.
Romans 12: 3 For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. 4 Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, 5 in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.6 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the standard of one’s faith; 7 if service, in service; if teaching, in teaching; 8 if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.
As much as I would like to be able to create these wonderfully eye pleasing spaces, I am not jealous because I understand the concept taught in Romans 12. We can’t all do the same thing. We are all different parts of the body and we are all necessary. So, with a heart of gratitude to God for gifting these people and to the people for being willing vessels, I will enjoy the results. And I will try to remember to tell them how much I appreciate all their time and effort.
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