Anointed versus talented: what’s the difference?
Talent is defined as: “Natural endowment or skill of superior quality.” The word talent comes from a Greek word that also speaks of something of great value as described in Matthew 25: 15-30.
Talent for artists is the natural ability and ability to create. It can be improved with training and practice. Being anointed is the very power of God that uses that talent to accomplish God’s purpose or plan.
In Scripture, the actual practice of anointing was applying oil to a person or thing. The anointing had its uses for ordinary purposes, such as with scented oils or to protect leather, and for medical purposes for the sick or injured (though not necessarily with oil).
The sacred anointing consisted of dedicating a thing or a person to God. The oil symbolized the Holy Spirit, empowering them for a particular assignment in the service of God. “Messiah” from the Hebrew word “mashiah”, and Christ from the Greek “christos”, meaning “the anointed one” or the one who has the power to make the assignment (in this case, redeem mankind back to God).
So what does this have to do with artists? God has given artists raw talent to create. Again, training and practice help hone that talent. But when it comes to doing an assignment or doing a task for God that involves your creativity, it can ONLY be done with God’s empowerment by working with the core talent. No matter what level of natural ability and experience an artist has, they cannot accomplish something of Kingdom value (God’s plan) without turning their talents over to the Holy Spirit.
God uses his people to carry out his plan. Especially use the gifts and talents that you have to deposit in you to achieve a plan through you.
A biblical example of this can be seen in Exodus 31: 1-11. God’s plan was to show that He is present and active with His people living among them in the Tabernacle while they were in the wilderness. God wanted the Tabernacle to be designed, adorned, and furnished in a specific way and He was going to accomplish this through a creative team from among the Israelites He selected. Although these artists had natural skill, ability, and knowledge, they could not complete the task according to God’s plan unless they used the understanding and wisdom with which the Spirit of God empowered them (Exodus 31: 3-4). .
Anointed is defined in more detail:
* Be able to do what you cannot normally do.
* When the super (the power of God) comes over the natural (the talent).
An example of trying to accomplish a task with talent alone and without anointing is how the Israelites created the golden calf. The calf was created with artistic talent, skill, experience and ability to be used in a feast for the Lord (Exodus 32: 5), but the anointing was not there. If these artists were making an effort to surrender themselves and their talents to the Spirit of God, I think they would have seen that this use of their talents was not pleasing to God, but rather a sin against God.
So how does the talented artist flow into the anointing? The names of the two artists that God used to spearhead the “Art Direction” for the construction of the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant help to remind us: “Bezalel”, whose name means “in the shadow of El (God)”. You cannot be in the shadow of God unless you are in the presence of God. Keeping quiet time with God regularly keeps us in tune with God’s plan.
“Aholiab” – whose name means “Store of the Father”, a man under authority. Obedient. As the Spirit of God reveals your direction for the use of your talents, you will be challenged to follow the plan and obey.