Craftsmanship and Artistic Expression: Gifts in Ministry II
The first time the gift of Craftsmanship appears in Scripture is in Exodus 31:1-5 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 skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts--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 craftsmanship.
Bezalel and others with artistic skill were called to the task of building the sanctuary of the tabernacle designed and commissioned by God. God specifically anointed these people with gifts of creating and building something that would bring him glory.
People with this gift are uniquely skilled at working with raw materials (wood, cloth, paints, glass, etc.), helping to create things that are used for ministry or that help meet tangible needs. Our church has a Work Krew—a team of mostly-retired men who come every week and fix, remodel, and spruce up all parts of the church. One of the team’s endeavors was to give a facelift to our main office and moving our entire library, complete with shelving, from one wing of our building to another. Many churches still have a Sewing Circle—a group that spends its time creating and stitching glorious quilts, pillows, wall-hangings, etc. for the enjoyment of others. Our Sewing Circle group does all this, sells those items, and donates that money to Missions.
K.T., a Work Krew member says, “I view my gift of craftsmanship as an ability to do service to others through building (and repairing) things. I seem to be able to analyze a situation and devise a solution to it.”
Closely-related to craftsmanship is the Spiritual Gift of Artistic Expression. You could also call it the gift of praise or worship. Those who have this gift have a special ability to communicate God’s message through the fine arts, including drama, writing, music, and drawing. Through their wonderful, God-given creativity, these people in our midst use their gifts to draw us in so that we might focus on God, on the Lord’s beauty, His glory, and on His messages to us.
As creative communicator J.B. says, “God has always been about Artistic Expression! Angels appearing in the night, burning bushes, talking donkeys, you name it! As someone who teaches people how to make more effective presentations, I am constantly reminded how important it is to get myself out of the way! When I enter a workshop, completely open to whatever He may have me say and do, my class is ALWAYS wonderful. I am more creative, the class is more eager to tell me more about them, and the time together becomes time with Jesus Christ.”
Some have both the gifts of Artistic Expression and Craftsmanship. Here are their thoughts on how these two gifts work together:
M.R.: “God has gifted me with a certain amount of creativity that I feel compelled to use, recognizing the Giver. This is played out in all aspects of my life, because it is deeply a part of who I am. My choice to live this out hopefully honors God, whether it is through a letter I write, a photograph I take, a conversation I have, a table I set, or a song I sing.”
J.K.: “For me these gifts manifest themselves more in terms of problem solving and being able to adapt to the materials at hand. You take what you have and make it into what you need. The project can be anything from household need to a painting. The communication aspect often turns out to be a form of loving your neighbor in crafting something unique that fits their needs. In art works, like a painting - the message is always - pay attention, God is at work, we are more than we appear to be.”
These gifts along with over twenty others are part of how God has equipped the church to function. Do you have the gifts of Craftsmanship or Artistic Expression? Are you using your gifts in ministry, following God’s leading? Using your God-given gifts makes a far greater impact than simply using your own talents and abilities. Each gift is a necessary part of the body of Christ!
If you would like more information about gifts, get the God. Gifts. You. workbook (includes access to six online videos) and review additional resources at GodGiftsYou.com. Shirley Giles Davis is also happy to consult with your church on implementing an effective discovery process that aids in people-engagement. Contact Shirley.