“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
“I want to be a fashion designer.”
I envisioned all the unique and intricate designs spilled over from my daughter, Hannah-jae’s, imagination into the fashion-design books I had given to her. It was time to buy her new ones.
I considered, “She may change her mind and become a missionary or a pastor’s wife. If she does, will I be happier?”
I remembered a time when I was younger. I always thought that all American Christians were ignorant, especially when they asked me about the outhouse my family and I used back home in the country of Mexico. Of course, we didn’t have an outhouse, but I was still condescending towards these Christians because in my mind and heart I thought that I was “more godly” for being the son of American missionaries to central Mexico.
Adelyn Rose and Hannah-jae
Godliness is the interplay between our knowledge of God and our obedience to God. It takes the invisibilities of our faith and makes them visible in a practical way in our lives. It encompasses our whole life, the whole spectrum, from praying to playing. It has nothing to do with position or title or location or preference, and everything to do with heart and faith and love and response.
Noah was good with the hammer. I’m assuming he was an expert craftsman, a carpenter of distinction. Not sloppily or ignorantly did he build the ark God had commanded him, and gifted him, to build.
The man God tapped to head the design/build team for the Tabernacle was named Bezalel. God “filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft” (Exodus 31:1-5). There were also “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” (Exodus 36:1). None of these were priests or “typical” religious workers.
I don’t think David, the shepherd boy, was unfamiliar with his sling. The sling was an ancient weapon of battle and in Judges 20:16 we read that every one of 700 slingers chosen for battle “could sling a stone at a hair and not miss”. Was David an expert in the art of slinging a stone? Did he consider it a waste of time in his shepherding duties, as opposed to singing and writing songs to God? Perhaps David spent as much time with his sling as he did with his lyre. Was one more important than the other for the job God had for him to do?
Paul, I imagine, learned the skill of tent-making well (Acts 18:3). I doubt he “cut corners” or did only a mediocre job. Knowing what we do about the missionary Paul, he would have entered wholeheartedly into this type of manual labor and immersed himself in the details, even though many in that day and Greek culture would have despised such labor.
A woman named Dorcas made clothes – tunics and garments – with freedom, leisure and generosity to give and minister to the needy around her (Acts 9:36-43).
Jesus was a “carpenter” (Matthew 13:55), a word generally used to indicate a craftsman of considerable skill.
Someone made the boat Jesus got into and taught from (Luke 5:1-3). It was important that it float. Someone caught the fish and made the loaves he broke, multiplied and gave to the 5,000 (Matthew 14:13-21). Someone made the baskets to hold the leftovers in, too. Someone made the very costly ointment that the woman poured on Jesus, the same action and ointment others considered an “ungodly” waste (Mark 14:3-9). And someone made the alabaster flask it was in. Someone made the bread and wine Jesus gave to his disciples in the upper room at their last supper (Matthew 26:26-27). And someone made the cup. And someone cleaned up after them.
When David prophesied of Jesus in Psalm 22:18, “they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots”, God had a seamstress in mind. Someone made a seamless tunic, “woven in one piece from top to bottom.” Someone made his sandals, belt and head covering. All these garments and those who made them were necessary, critical, and precious to the fulfilling of Scripture (John 19:23-24).
God neither saves our talents nor saves us because of our talents or skills. He saves our hearts and saves us from our sins. So everything that proceeds from our saved heart, though it might not look “godly” or different on the surface from what others might do, is in fact different. It’s different because we’re godly. Nothing in our lives is compartmentalized, segregated, under godliness. Rather, everything is absorbed into it. Everything is different simply because God gives each of us unique skills and variations thereof, and accordingdly calls each to differing places and positions of service. Yet, when we respond, whether with pencil or thread or plane ticket or tears, our response is Spirit-inspired, God-directed, and Christ-exalting.
Maybe Hannah will go and serve as a missionary. Maybe Hannah will design clothes and give them to missionaries and help to clothe those they are serving and trying to reach. Maybe Hannah will love Jesus and be "just" a fashion designer, a loving wife and a mother. I’d be a grateful and proud father and pastor.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24
Recent Comments