The Extravagance of Art

We’re coming to the end of our study of Communication and Creativity. But we’re going to look at a few more things that the Bible has to say – in a moment.

First, here are a few questions to ponder:

1. How have I seen the world use art to fight against God, or to tempt me to sin?
2. How could I use what I’ve been learning to change the way I create or “consume” art?
3. How could I use art to fight for the Kingdom of God in the months ahead?

Remember, art can be used for good and evil. Yes, we have often seen it twisted to a wicked purpose. Used to feed sinful pleasure. Used to manipulate or abuse others. Pornography. Gluttony. Lies.

But we should end our study by remembering the positive – We were created to be creative! And we use our creativity to communicate with one another and with God – and that is a wonderful thing. Art can be used for God’s glory, the fight the good fight of the faith, and to enjoy as a gift from our Creator.

Jesus was at the house of Simon the Leper in the town of Bethany – and we presume from the nickname that Simon was a leper that Jesus had healed. Mary, Martha’s sister, was there. And Martha, Mary’s sister, had come to help serve the food – she was apparently pretty good with the culinary arts.

Mary had an alabaster jar of perfume (alabaster was a type of stone from Egypt). This tiny container would cost a year’s wages – imagine!

And she used it to anoint the Lord. She didn’t pour out a little – that would have been a lot – the beautiful smell would have filled the room. No, she broke the container and poured it all on his head! This might seem odd to us, but it was not out of the ordinary in the custom of the day to anoint with perfume. But the amount – the value – that was very much out of the ordinary. Extravagant!

But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”

John 12:4-5

We know now that Judas was actually stealing from the money bag, so he wasn’t exactly concerned for the poor. But some of the other disciples were probably thinking the exact same thing.

And yet, Jesus defended Mary’s extravagant gift.

Yes, there is a time to give to the poor. But there is also a time to enjoy God’s gifts, and to give to God – in a creative and extravagant way, for His glory! In a sense, we’re “giving back” to God. And because of our own creativity, it is something uniquely ours.

God loved us with a love that was extravagant, luxurious, abundant, generous, lavish. “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—

1 Corinthians 2:9

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

Creativity and communication allow us to love extravagantly. But we recognize we are ever dependent on the Creator of the universe. And we create as creatures. We should create based in truth. We should create with purpose, with the ultimate goal of glorifying God and enjoying Him. With extravagance.

Next topic? The Environment. See you next time!