The Gift of Art: Empowered Humility

Related Texts: Exodus 35:30-35, 36:1-7, ch.36-39 ; Genesis 1:26

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This is the second of a multi-part series entitled “The Gift of Art” where we will discuss this incredible and sometimes mysterious subject of “art”, how it is a gift from God and how we can best use it for His glory.

Read part 1 here

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I’m guilty on more than one occasion of idolizing the art that my favorite artists create. It’s so easy to freak out over how great something is and slide down that slippery slope that causes me to get personally offended when somebody else doesn’t enjoy the same art like I do. Even though I have a handful of stories, I can remember one specific time when my friend John and I had an argument over Lady Gaga.

We were talking about talented artists who are more than just what their producers make them into. I brought up Lady Gaga as one of the most complete artists when it comes to excellent executors of her art, in-depth understanding of what she creates, stage presence, etc. My buddy John responds with “oh, dude, Lady Gaga sucks”. I won’t tell you who he said was a superior version of the popstar, but having a clearly superior sense of what constitutes as “good art” I can confidently say that his recommendation wasn’t even close in ability and talent (I’m of course being a little facetious). I continued to fanboy over why Gaga is one of the best artists in the modern era, sure I would be able to convince him. I was unsuccessful. But that doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t post a blog about why Lady Gaga is an artistic gem in this modern era!

But don’t worry, that’s not what today’s post is about. 🙂

The point being is that my response was far angrier than what was worthwhile for the conversation at hand. Anger is a telling sign that we idolize something or someone. When an artist I appreciate is challenged (no matter how right I may be) if I get angry about it, I might have an unhealthy idolatry of that person or thing. I’m equally guilty of being defensive of my own creations, and trying to convince others that my art is great for everybody and they should all love it. Sometimes it’s not even about the art in and of itself, but of what I can get out of that art. This leads me to our topic today.

There’s a temptation for artists to create for mass appeal, whether that’s for financial success or otherwise, the temptation is real. Now, money itself isn’t a bad thing, and creating marketable art isn’t a sin. I think this is part of why Moses cut off the free-will giving that was taking place to an artist that was creating the Tabernacle. It’s also so crucial that we learn to understand what God is calling us to do, and we execute that calling with excellence and have a humble heart to call it complete when we reach the point that God tells us to stop and call it complete. Let’s take a look at this story together in the book of Exodus:

“Then Moses said to the people of Israel,

“See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. And He has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer. Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.”

And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work. And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing, and said to Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.” So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.”

So the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.” // Exodus 35:30-35, 36:1-7 (ESV)

Now, if you’re interested in the list of what Bezalel created, you can read through the rest of chapter 36 all the way through chapter 39. His craftsmanship was incredible, incomparable, and beautiful. Even though he didn’t create the tabernacle single-handedly by any means, Bezalel oversaw the project as the “chief artist”, so to speak. His ability outshined anybody else’s. I’d like to draw attention to two very important phrases: “(God) has filled (Bezalel) with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship… for work in every skilled craft.” Also note: “And He has inspired him to teach…”

Consider this: God has filled artists with the skill, intelligence, knowledge, and ability (craftsmanship) to execute the craft that they utilize. God and God alone is to credit for what you can create. I think it’s also so valuable that God inspired Bezalel to teach other craftsmen to create like only Bezalel could. I think it’s such a crucial piece of what artists do, to teach younger artists. Most obvious reasoning for this ability and desire to teach is that Bezalel couldn’t have completed this project by himself. Artist, can I challenge you with the question: are you pursuing a creation that is so grand that it will require you to enlist the help of other craftsmen? Are you devoting time to seeing those craftsmen grow in their own craft, to partner with them in a specific creation, but also to see them succeed on their own?

It’s so profound to think that God not only equipped Bezalel to complete the task of building the Tabernacle, but also instilled the humility into Bezalel to pour into less talented craftsmen so that they could be excellent in their craft and also to take part in such a huge creative endeavor. How wild it is that God inspired Bezalel to, essentially, develop competition for himself as an artist in the future. Why do you think God didn’t just enable Bezalel to pull off the task by himself? I think there are two reasons:

1. God designed us for community (Genesis 1:26)
2. God gave Bezalel the fail-safe from falling to his own pride

Let’s dig into reason number 2 and save the topic of community for another post. Have you ever created a piece of art by yourself? How tempting is it to point back to your own ability as the source for its greatness? Have you ever created with a team? How much easier is it to deflect credit to the team you were a part of?

I ask all these questions simply to prove my point: anything made by an individual can be a foothold for pride to overwhelm us as Creatives, and anything made within a team has a far lesser capability to be a source of pride. God did this to protect Bezalel’s soul. Bezalel could not have accomplished such a task on his own. In fact, he couldn’t have been in the role that he was in had it not been for God imposing His Spirit on him. It was only through the guidance of that Spirit that Bezalel was able to work on behalf of the Lord.

Reminds me of our existence as Christian artists. Our ability to create only comes from God, as we are made in His likeness and empowered by His giving of gifts. Our giftings are so easily turned around the wrong way to point back to us, and so God comes to Earth in the form of the God-man, Jesus, to redeem our lives back to Him. This redeems not just us as who we are, but eventually redeems what we do. Every creation, every task- all point back to God, empowered only by God. All artists are so much like Bezalel, and those of us who follow Jesus relate to Bezalel in that God has protected us from being entrapped by pride by ensuring that we always have something greater to point back to: our savior, Jesus Christ.

This is why Bezalel didn’t fall to his own pride by idolizing his creation and possibly fighting for higher payment- because he created something that’s inherent worth was to point people to God and God alone. May our art reflect Bezalel’s same intent to worship God with all that he created.

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Kevin McClure has been leading worship in the local church for over 10 years in different capacities of student and adult ministries. As a songwriter, musical artist, and worship leader he has had the honor of touring the United States both as a performer and worship leader over the better part of the last decade. With a heart to see believers learn how to take the act of worship beyond the setting of a group gathering, Kevin is incredibly intentional with his time on and offstage to help teach the practice of worship as a lifestyle. Kevin lives in Omaha, Nebraska with his bride Hailey and his two daughters, Everleigh (8) and Eliska (2). His favorite food is coffee (lifesource), loves bonfires, and is convinced that Jesus is a Chicago Cubs fan.