Honoring an Artist

When you think about a famous artist, do you think about their work? For example, when someone mentions the name Van Gogh, you might think of his painting Starry Night. When someone mentions Michelangelo, you might think of his sculpture of David. When someone mentions Beethoven, you might think of his Fifth Symphony. When someone mentions Shakespeare, you might think of his Twenty-third Sonnet. 

 

The best way to honor an artist is by appreciating their work. They want you to admire their paintings, to take in their sculptures, to hum their compositions, and memorize lines from their poetry. Over the years I have seen people applaud these artists, but they do so by emphasizing their work, not their tools. 

 

In school we read Shakespeare, but the textbooks never had a picture of his pen. I don’t think I have ever seen Beethoven’s piano, Michelangelo’s chisel, or Van Gogh’s paintbrush. If you want to honor the artist, you highlight their work, not their utensil. 

 

Because God is the Creator (Genesis 1:1, John 1:1), we can rightly call Him an artist. His works cause all others to pale in comparison, and Christians should want to honor His work. Like a professor of literature joyously reciting lines from Hamlet, we should jump at the chance to brag about God’s handiwork. But to quote John MacArthur, “If an artist is to be honored, you do not make a statue of his brush or his palette. It makes no more sense for Christians to glorify men…” 

 

We have a tendency to over-elevate people, whether they be “rockstar” pastors, musicians, authors, or conference speakers. There is nothing wrong with fame, and there is nothing wrong with admiring people for using their spiritual gifts, but we must remember that they are the utensils, the instruments in the hands of the Great Artist. Max Lucado has written great books, but he is like God’s typewriter. Bill Gather has written beautiful praise music, but he is like God’s piano. Billy Graham has preached wonderful sermons, but he is like God’s microphone. 

 

There are people in your life who have done generous deeds or acts of kindness. They are God’s hands and feet. We should all strive to use our gifts to do God’s work on earth, but at the end of the day all the praise goes to our God. We are all tools in His hands, and He uses us according to His own desires. We join the sons of Korah in singing, “In God we boast all day long, and praise your name forever (Psalm 44:8).” Let’s honor the Artist by pointing to His works, not the tools He uses.