Life's Daily Challenge Devotional

Check your inspiration (perverted creativity)

“And they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth,’” Genesis 11:4.

To the inspired,

In God’s creative order everything was designed to come from Him, through Him, and then be returned back to Him for His glory (Romans 11:36). Nature shows us how this works. Rain comes down from the clouds to bring life upon the earth. The cycle completes when evaporation takes this life-giving water back to the clouds (see Isaiah 55:8-11). This type of creative cycle represents a complete act of worship.

Man, however, through evil, fleshly inspiration, often uses the things of God to glorify himself. This type of pride was the downfall of Lucifer, long ago. His desire to keep God’s glory for himself, caused him to be banished from heaven. Now he subtly tempts people through their own pride. When they use the gifts God gave them for selfish advantage, satan expresses his nature through their thoughts, words and actions (see John 8:42-44). Every time this happens, a new tower is erected. The word "Babel" means confusion. The original tower was built because men feared being scattered abroad. They took the materials and the creative spirit that God had given them and constructed a monument to make a name for themselves. James 3:16 says that works born out of envy and self-seeking are demonically inspired. The fruit of these works is confusion and evil. God opposed the original Babel, and still opposes these works today.

Check your inspiration. Proverbs 4:23 says that we need to guard our heart with all diligence. There is a popular saying that tells us that the end justifies the means. This is not so with God. He does not look at outward appearances, but rather at the heart. Ask yourself if you are using your gifts for His glory or for self-promotion? Are you using them in your own strength, or are you waiting upon Him? Are you asking Him to bless your plans, or are you obediently listening for what He wants you to do? One day a fire will come that will try all of your creative works. It will judge them to determine how and why you did them (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). In the end Christ will be all and all. The only things that will stand will be those things that you did for His glory.