BEAUTIFUL THINGS

Since my youth I have always heard that you should give your best to God. In my early church years it was an argument for dressing up in a suite & tie but then I always wondered why those same persons had formal attire they only wore to weddings and balls.  I guess giving their best to God had limits . . . ?

Nonetheless, there is some actual truth behind giving God our best that exceeds church cultural hang-up. It is that we should not give God our leftovers, or our half-hearted efforts, or sloppy craftsmanship, but to give and do our best to the glory of God. In the medieval period 90% of art, music, and theater in Western society was considered to have a Christian worldview. Now less than 10% of the arts are Christian in worldview and often times those are substandard in quality. Many Christian recording artist settled on a Christian music label because of a lack of quality rather than a conviction to make Christian music. Today most Christian art falls into the "Jesus Junk" category of bumper sticker religion.

When you study the Old Testament the commitment to craftsmanship in the building of the temple was impeccable. Likewise if you look at some of the grand old cathedrals of times long past, the artwork is incredible. While I am not an advocate of ornate church buildings, preferring the more minimalist architecture of modern church buildings, I still believe in giving our best to God. The words I am looking for are quality and excellence but often times we do not associate that also with beauty. Somehow beauty is all too often thought of as frivolous or as shallow. In contrast we have the creative God who made the mountains, the sea, the valley, and everything in them, along with everything in the heavens all the way to the stars; these things are beautiful.

I imagine that in the midst of all of our failures that God's view of these things that bring us such joy when we gaze upon them must also touch the heart of God who made them, and bring continual pleasure to him. In reflection of this we added to our values statement something I once read 17 years ago: God is beautiful and his creation reflects his beauty: God created man and woman in his image and likeness who also create works of beauty. For this reason we value the arts, expression, and creativity. Often times we neglect the value of beauty or make light of it as an extra expense or as unnecessary but as we seek to imitate God we remember that he is the author of all things beautiful, so part of imitating him comes in this expression also.

In very practical terms it means that I do all that I do with this value when I paint a wall, or I create a business report, or make a presentation for school, or suture a wound, or cut the grass, or make a website, or any other job I do, that I bring glory to God by doing beautiful work or creating a sculpture, or writing beautiful songs. These all glorify God and go against the tide of "good enough" or worse yet, cutting corners because it's cheap or more convenient.

The Bible says, 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.

When I read that passage I feel compelled to give God my very best, and when I say that, I don't mean that it must be expensive, or ornate, or that I should compare my work with others. I simply mean that I would not slop my way through it or only give God my leftovers. And furthermore, that when others go the extra mile to make something truly beautiful we would not disregard it as frivolous or shallow, but see their  craftsmanship and give glory to God because of it.

God makes beautiful things and you are one of them. So when you give God your best you make beautiful things because you are created in his image.