There has been a recurrence of scripture about respondsibility for the gifts of God in my study this week. Isaiah 58:6-11 to be exact along with the ones from Matthew.
My tendency is to become overwhelmed and begin to examine all the things that I am not doing and to question from every concievable angle what it is I am supposed to do. My flesh and the enemy are continually pushing to get my focus off of the things I KNOW to do by getting my thoughts on what I am unsure of, of what is unclear. I can begin to count all the ways I am failing and that in and of itself causes failure. In me that intense self examination causes paralysis, because I can find "no good thing."
The study I am currently in on the fruit of the spirit explains the word "goodness" as active. Goodness is a working out. (And it isn't just being nice and not rocking the boat. In fact goodness often expresses itself through confrontation. Just look at some of the things Jesus did and said to confirm.) Goodness creates something. It is fruitful. Looking at the creation in Genesis God proclaimed His creations good. God's goodness, which is active, created good fruit. And not just fruit in the form of living beings. He called all of it good. Ocean and all.
So, all my wonderings about the validity of my creative gift and all it's ins and outs, how is matters, how in the world is it of any use are quelled for the moment. Could it be that the fruit (artwork) of His gift to me of creativity (artistry) is actually "good?"
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"all my wonderings about the validity of my creative gift and all it's ins and outs, how it matters, how in the world is it of any use ..." Perhaps you are trying to read the end of the book before you have finished the first few chapters. God often calls us to do things without revealing (yet) the purpose for or the consequences of those things. You may be focusing what could happen when a painting is finished, but there may be a greater purpose in the process of obedience (painting day by day) itself. The boy who brought the little fish lunch with him to hear Jesus preach could never have guessed how Jesus would use those little fish to feed a few thousand men. He simply did two wise things (went to hear Jesus, brought a lunch). Obedience is good. Enjoying the gifts God has given to us is good. We do not know in advance how He uses our obedience and our enjoyment. We simply obey and enjoy using the gifts... and be prepared for good surprises.
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