Crafting for Christ - A Devotional on Artistry, and Works

Date​

June 9, 2024 | Crafting for Christ​

Verse​

Exodus 31:1-5 (NIV): "Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.’"

Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV): "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."

Proverbs 22:29 (NIV): "Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank."​

Explanation​

These three passages highlight the importance of using our God-given skills and talents to honor and glorify Him in our work.

In Exodus 31:1-5, God personally chooses Bezalel, a skilled craftsman from the tribe of Judah, and fills him with the Holy Spirit to create artistic designs for the Tabernacle. This passage demonstrates that God values creativity and craftsmanship and that using our talents for His service is pleasing to Him.

Colossians 3:23-24 emphasizes the idea that whatever we do, we should do it with all our heart, as if we are working for the Lord and not just for human masters. This passage underscores the significance of our work and how it can be an act of worship to God. It also encourages us to view our jobs as a means of serving Him and striving for excellence.

Proverbs 22:29 suggests that a skilled worker will be recognized and rewarded for their abilities, which could mean serving before kings or other high-ranking officials. This passage highlights the potential for our skills and talents to bring us opportunities to serve God and make a positive impact in the world.​

Societal Relevance​

To uplift God in our hobbies or crafts and in our normal day jobs, we can:​

For myself, it can be difficult to know how to glorify God in my works, nor do I make much art, though, I try to treat others with kindness. An example would be to hold the door open for my fellow employees, or to go above and beyond. For instance, on on the first week of June, I helped reorganize the racks in the hallway for the laboratory which I work at, added more labels to the shelving and developed a spreadsheet to track the weekly stocks of supplies. Now, the personal protective equipment (disposable lab coats) and consumables are located on the left racks, while the plastics (tubes, pipette tips) are located on the right racks, organized roughly by size, measured in milliliters. Before this, items necessary for efficient lab operations were scattered randomly between both of the two racks. And because of this, my manager will add a $150 bonus to my paycheck for my work on June 14, 2024.

However, sometimes work will not be rewarded on this earth (Colossians 3:23-24), but instead will be rewarded in heaven. Good deeds are a sign that one is steadfast to one’s faith, but good deeds alone are not a sign of salvation. So, whether one is Catholic or Protestant, in order to show that we truly love Jesus, the Holy Spirit will compel us to help others in need. It is up to us to heed the callings for help, and take initiative.

Martin Luther said himself: "Good works are the seals and proof of faith, for even as a letter must have a seal to strengthen the same, even so, faith must have good works".

As a Catholic myself, even Luther (a Protestant) goes to show that we must do good with our work, our crafts, and our lives to help others, so eventually, I will join a volunteer organization at my local Catholic church to help the food bank. So, let us live our lives out glorifying Christ by helping his people, whether that be helping out the poor, holding the door open for someone, helping an elderly neighbor bring in groceries, making art that glorifies God, or making music that has clean and wholesome lyrics. Without good works, our faith will die (James 2:26).​