A second cure for social media dissatisfaction: glorifying God with our individual creative talents and spiritual gifts

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Last week I shared with you that I had just got a new phone and the increase in dissatisfaction with my life that I had noticed from increased use of social media.

Photo by Neil Soni on Unsplash

I wondered if you have noticed the same after scrolling on Instagram, or even after having read an idealistic book, looked at a glossy magazine of the perfect home and garden, met with a friend who seems to 'have it altogether' or even after hearing of the good works of another Christian.

We considered how this dissatisfaction may develop as we compare ourselves, our possessions, our families and our lives with others and we perhaps start to want what they have or are.

We then thought about a remedy for this dissatisfaction - a confession of this sin of coveting to our God and then with His help to pursue Him with a spirit of thankfulness and gratitude, 'godliness with contentment'.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

But perhaps it is not the actual possessions or lives of other people that we want. Maybe we covet the beauty that we see in their lives. Perhaps they have been able to use their natural creative talents to 'romanticise' their lives, and present beautiful images of God's creation, childhood moments, or picturesque living.

Instead of becoming envious and dissatisfied, could these feelings motivate us, or stir us up to give more glory to God in how we live our lives in the individual way He has made us? Could our 'comparison envy' be overcome by God-glorifying action?

Our individuality

My thoughts were first guided this way when I saw a little video on Instagram of different birds singing. I was struck by their individual beauties and songs. They were all birds but they were all different and beautiful in their own created ways.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Patrik Luther (@pataluth)

Dear friend, are you, am I, as a little wren looking at a nightingale envying its variety of sounds? Or are we the little chiffchaff envying the full throated song of the glossy blackbird?

Does the blackbird give up singing in the morning chorus because he is not the song thrush? Does the screech owl refuse to screech because he is not the chaffinch?

Dear reader, are we ignoring our own gifts/talents whilst busy coveting other peoples'? What is your personality, your talent, your gift? How has God made you and me to differ?

Are we glorifying Him with the talents He has given us? Do our lives praise and give honour to Him, reflecting a little of what He is?

Our natural creativity

This ability to beautify or 'romanticise' our lives in creative ways is suggested by Edith Schaeffer* to be in all of us as a 'hidden art'.

She asks why humans can 'think of many things...choose, and then bring forth somethings that other people can taste, smell, feel, hear and see?' And then answers her own questions, that it is because we are made in the image of our Creator, and on a finite level given the capacity to create -using the materials God already created.

Photo by Sammi on Unsplash

Although limited by time and by our different talents she suggests that we each have the capacity to be creative in some way, thus representing and reflecting our Creator.

She outlines the little ways in which we can incorporate our creative talents into our everyday lives to beautify them, whether it is planting flowers in a small tub or writing a tiny note to slip into your husband's/child's lunchbox.

Rather than enviously looking at the beautiful 'lives' on social media, what small, minor, thing can we do to express something of our inner creative dreams?

Schaeffer writes, 'in the midst of carrying out the purpose God has for us - in the midst of sacrifice of time, money, luxury and self-indulgence, in the midst of putting God first and someone else second and self last - we can still have the fulfilments which help us to be be balanced and whole creatures, rather than torn, lonely, unbalanced, splintered people.'

Unfulfilled talents and dreams

Perhaps we longingly think of a particular talent we have and wish we could use it. But we feel so hindered and held back by our circumstances or time. Let us take such feelings to the Lord and ask Him to show us what His will is in this regard. Perhaps at this time of our life it is His will for us to be used in some other way. Or perhaps we are to review how we are living and prioritise what we do.

Think of King David who had the desire to build the LORD a temple. God sent him a message that it wasn't for him to do, but for his son Solomon. David graciously submitted but then did all he could to prepare for the building in readiness for Solomon's great work.

Photo by Denis Agati on Unsplash

Spiritual individuality and gifts

Christians are exhorted to not only glorify God with their natural gifts and bodies, but in our spirit (1 Corinthians 6:20). As the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, 'Neglect not the gift that is in thee' (1 Timothy 4:14) and 'I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands' (2 Timothy 1:6). It had been recognized that God had given Timothy the gift of ministry and Paul was reminding him not to neglect this.

Although we may not have experienced such a clear spiritual gift, Christians will have these individually to lesser or greater extents as well as our natural talents and personalities. We may become quite burdened wondering whether we should give up these more secular gifts in order to prioritise our spiritual gifts.

I remember reading of Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones** a skilful doctor of medicine with clear natural and worked for talents. How did he know to give them up for the ministry of the gospel?

Photo by Sasun Bughdaryan on Unsplash

Do you feel as if you have a secular employment which you want to give up to serve the Lord but you wonder if you will be wasting talents and gifts?

LLoyd-Jones knew these struggles, but he realised they were struggles between earthly ambitions which at the most could only cure people to go back to their old sinful ways of living, and concerns to know whether he had been given a divine call to the ministry.

He literally lost over 20lbs in weight as he agonised over what the Lord's will was for him.

He saw the mutterings, criticisms and jealousies of his top peers as they vied for achievements and success; he saw the search for peace - peace from themselves - in the throngs of people around him as they visited the entertainments of the city.

But he longed to be amongst the people of God. He longed to be preaching to sick souls who would be healed from their sins. He said, '...we have sometimes to give up those things which are good for that which is best of all - the joy of salvation and newness of life'.

Dear reader, I feel as if much more could be written on this subject, but for today when we next feel dissatisfied as we see or scroll through other people's lives on social media may we firstly be helped to lift up our hearts to God in thankfulness and gratitude for what He has done and given to us in our lives.

Secondly, may we be stirred up to remember, that we have all been created to glorify God with our lives (Isaiah 43:7).

Not only with our own individual talents and personalities, the hidden art within us, but God's children have also been quickened - or 'made alive' to strive after knowing Christ, to perform the works which God has prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:1-10) and not to 'neglect' the spiritual gifts that are in us.

*Edith Schaeffer 'The Hidden Art of Homemaking'
**Iain H Murray 'D.Martyn Lloyd-Jones. The first forty years 1899-1939'

Do you want to receive Precious Thoughts straight into your inbox?

Click here to subscribe for free

Do you want to make a contribution to Precious Thoughts?

Click here for Online Giving