Creativity versus Underachievement

This is WEEK 8 of the Character Development Series I am doing for 2012.  So glad you stopped by.  

Are you familiar with the story of Helen Keller?  She lost her hearing and sight before the age of 2 and lived like a wild, unruly, unteachable child until the age of 7.  So she would have continued to exist  if it had not been for a young teacher named Anne Sullivan .  Anne had a unique perspective on blindness because she had recently had her sight restored through surgical procedures.  Taking that very special insight and empathy, she was able to reach into the dark, confused world of Helen Keller and make a human connection.  Helen Keller grew into an educated, wise, talented and grateful lady who made many contributions to society.  Helen Keller may have been blind and deaf, but she had the mindset of achieving, of being useful, and productive with her life.  She didn’t focus on what she couldn’t do, but on what she could accomplish with the talents and knowledge that she did possess.   As quoted by Helen Keller:   “I long to accomplish a great and noble task; but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.”

We should strive to utilize our unique creativity and not settle for being an underachiever.

CREATIVITY means:
1. having the ability or power to create
2.being productive
3.characterized by originality and expressiveness; imaginative

Synonyms for Creativity: imagination, talent, inspiration, productivity, ingenuity, originality, inventiveness
Antonyms  for Creativity: underachiever, loafer, nonproducer, derelict, defaulter

What the Bible says about Creativity:
Exodus 35:31-32  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,
Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Colossians 3:23  Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men
Jeremiah 1:5  “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Romans 12:6  Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them
Psalm 150:1-6  Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
James 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Examples from the Bible:
The Ant:  Proverbs 6: 6-11
The Wife of Noble Character: Proverbs 31:10-31
The Gifts of the Spirit: 1 Corinthians 12: 8-10

The Example of Jesus to Us:
Through the example of his own life, Jesus taught us much about serving others, and being productive.  He used his abilities to heal, comfort, and teach.  He lived his life to obey God and to honor Him.  No man has left such a mark on the world.  No man has made such a difference with his life.

Personal Application and Thoughts:
God’s essence is creative power.  He alone can create something out of nothing.  Man, being made in His own image, bears many of the attributes of God, and God blesses man with being unique,  and having wonderful abilities.  When a man becomes a Christian and submits his talents and abilities to God,  God can use those talents and abilities to accomplish amazing things.  God says in his word that He knew us before we were even born and that our lives have purpose….His purpose.
I challenge you to ask God to show you the unique talents and abilities that he has chosen for you, and to reveal the tasks and purposes he wants you to accomplish. A good place to start is studying the Gifts of the Spirit. See Gifts of the Spirit: Building up the Body  http://www.allaboutgod.com/gifts-of-the-spirit.htm  View each day of your life as a gift, and approach it with the mindset of achieving, being productive, and glorifying God no matter how small and mundane the tasks of your day may be.  You were created by God and you have the ability to be creative, and to use that creativity to bless and serve others.

PRAYER FOR YOU:  May you know that you are special in God’s eyes and made specifically by Him for a purpose.  May you strive to be productive and to achieve all that you can in this life so that it may glorify God.