Why Are So Many People Gifted With Creativity That Will Never Pay the Bills?

[seoulsearch]

Hey Everyone,

I've been asking myself this question for a while, and was reminded of it during a chat with a young mom who had been an art student in college. I asked her what careers are available in art, and she said unless you want to go into graphic design, which was hard to break into (from her perspective,) or be an art teacher, there really was no way of making a living from it. And even then, it was often very restrictive of what the artist would be able to do.

This got me thinking.

I've known SO many creative people in every area you can imagine -- cooking, baking, painting, drawing, sewing, needle arts, woodwork, jewelry-making, film work, music... the list of creative talents is endless. Nearly everyone I've ever met has some kind of version of this gift.

But out of all of those people, I'm trying to think of any who were able to make a living from it -- and I can barely think of even a handful. Even then, it was usually something on the side, and not their main source of income.

The young mom I talked to said that even her artistic friends who COULD find work had a rough time with it, because their creative spirit wanted to do what it wanted, making them feel caged by clients who paid for their own specifications and not the artist's free reign.

* Why do you think God put artistic talent and creativity into so many people, but yet hardly anyone can use it to make a living?

After all, I'm sure most people would love to be able to live on what they love rather than slogging away at a job they feel obligated to in order to support their families.

* Why is it, do you think, that God has not chosen to structure things this way, or made it so more people can live off their creativity?

I know the token "Christian" answer will probably be that God reserves a lot of our creative gifts for Himself and His glory, and maybe that's true. But it makes me sad to see the demise of sites like Etsy, where passionate homemade artists hoped to sell their works for a fair price.

After all, the Bible says "The worker deserves his wages." (1 Timothy 5:18)

* Would God want to see Christian artists be able to support themselves and their children doing what they love, or does He want our creativity to be reserved as a free gift to others or personal hobby?

I would love to hear your thoughts and stories, whether about your own artistic abilities, or of the talented people you know.

 

[Gideon300]

Hey Everyone,

I've been asking myself this question for a while, and was reminded of it during a chat with a young mom who had been an art student in college. I asked her what careers are available in art, and she said unless you want to go into graphic design, which was hard to break into (from her perspective,) or be an art teacher, there really was no way of making a living from it. And even then, it was often very restrictive of what the artist would be able to do.

This got me thinking.

I've known SO many creative people in every area you can imagine -- cooking, baking, painting, drawing, sewing, needle arts, woodwork, jewelry-making, film work, music... the list of creative talents is endless. Nearly everyone I've ever met has some kind of version of this gift.

But out of all of those people, I'm trying to think of any who were able to make a living from it -- and I can barely think of even a handful. Even then, it was usually something on the side, and not their main source of income.

The young mom I talked to said that even her artistic friends who COULD find work had a rough time with it, because their creative spirit wanted to do what it wanted, making them feel caged by clients who paid for their own specifications and not the artist's free reign.

* Why do you think God put artistic talent and creativity into so many people, but yet hardly anyone can use it to make a living?

After all, I'm sure most people would love to be able to live on what they love rather than slogging away at a job they feel obligated to in order to support their families.

* Why is it, do you think, that God has not chosen to structure things this way, or made it so more people can live off their creativity?

I know the token "Christian" answer will probably be that God reserves a lot of our creative gifts for Himself and His glory, and maybe that's true. But it makes me sad to see the demise of sites like Etsy, where passionate homemade artists hoped to sell their works for a fair price.

After all, the Bible says "The worker deserves his wages." (1 Timothy 5:18)

* Would God want to see Christian artists be able to support themselves and their children doing what they love, or does He want our creativity to be reserved as a free gift to others or personal hobby?

I would love to hear your thoughts and stories, whether about your own artistic abilities, or of the talented people you know.

People seem to forget that God did not create us we are now. We are descendants of Adam. Apart from Jesus, Adam was the greatest man who ever lived. I have enough trouble creating a password or username, let alone naming every type of animal on the earth.

As we know, Adam sinned and so died spiritually. He became independent of God as pride and rebellion corrupted his nature. Adam's descendants (and that is all mankind) share his fallen nature. So an individual may well have many talents.

My father was amazing. He could draw, paint and create cartoons. One of his pastimes was cryptic crosswords. He could do the hardest with ease.

He was a modeller, putting together large models of sailing ships. He was good enough to be asked to restore aging models at a nearby small museum. As for work, he was a brilliant chef.

Dad was also an atheist. He was for many years an alcoholic. He was aggressive and had a foul temper until he quit drinking in his 50's. He mellowed after that. His undoubted talents were pretty much wasted.

Much as people hate to be told this, God created us to be His friends and for His glory. The most fulfilled Christian life is one where we are completely surrendered to God's will. Often, our greatest strengths are our weakness. We are inclined to depend on our abilities instead of depending on God. For example, I used to play guitar for an hour a day. It was an obsession. God asked me to let go of it, and I did. Many years later, God allowed me to take it up again. It was no longer an obsession and so not a trap. I can play or not, it does not bother me one way or another. God will use our talents, but only when they are no longer a source of pride or a trap to us.

 

[seoulsearch]

People seem to forget that God did not create us we are now. We are descendants of Adam. Apart from Jesus, Adam was the greatest man who ever lived. I have enough trouble creating a password or username, let alone naming every type of animal on the earth.

As we know, Adam sinned and so died spiritually. He became independent of God as pride and rebellion corrupted his nature. Adam's descendants (and that is all mankind) share his fallen nature. So an individual may well have many talents.

My father was amazing. He could draw, paint and create cartoons. One of his pastimes was cryptic crosswords. He could do the hardest with ease.

He was a modeller, putting together large models of sailing ships. He was good enough to be asked to restore aging models at a nearby small museum. As for work, he was a brilliant chef.

Dad was also an atheist. He was for many years an alcoholic. He was aggressive and had a foul temper until he quit drinking in his 50's. He mellowed after that. His undoubted talents were pretty much wasted.

Much as people hate to be told this, God created us to be His friends and for His glory. The most fulfilled Christian life is one where we are completely surrendered to God's will. Often, our greatest strengths are our weakness. We are inclined to depend on our abilities instead of depending on God. For example, I used to play guitar for an hour a day. It was an obsession. God asked me to let go of it, and I did. Many years later, God allowed me to take it up again. It was no longer an obsession and so not a trap. I can play or not, it does not bother me one way or another. God will use our talents, but only when they are no longer a source of pride or a trap to us.

Thank you so much for taking the time to post this -- chock full of good information here.

I am so sorry to hear about your father -- he certainly was incredibly gifted. And thank you for sharing the detail that for you, the guitar became an obsession -- that God tamed back to something for His own glory.

I have often thought about that, wondering if God holds us back in some ways because He knows we might get too wrapped up in our gifts rather than the Giver.

There have been some specific things I've been wanting to gift to people in my life and I was originally looking at Etsy, but after hearing so many stories of the sellers being ripped off, big companies stealing homemakers' designs, and AI products taking all the business with cheaper products, I'm going to try to buy locally and in person if possible.

I'm looking forward to an annual local lawn and garden fair next month, as there will be many crafters selling their handmade goods. I hope to support their work if I can.

Thank you for sharing your story and the reminder that every little thing about us has to be credited back to God, and is not just for our own use.

 

[HopeinHim98]

Hey Everyone,

I've been asking myself this question for a while, and was reminded of it during a chat with a young mom who had been an art student in college. I asked her what careers are available in art, and she said unless you want to go into graphic design, which was hard to break into (from her perspective,) or be an art teacher, there really was no way of making a living from it. And even then, it was often very restrictive of what the artist would be able to do.

This got me thinking.

I've known SO many creative people in every area you can imagine -- cooking, baking, painting, drawing, sewing, needle arts, woodwork, jewelry-making, film work, music... the list of creative talents is endless. Nearly everyone I've ever met has some kind of version of this gift.

But out of all of those people, I'm trying to think of any who were able to make a living from it -- and I can barely think of even a handful. Even then, it was usually something on the side, and not their main source of income.

The young mom I talked to said that even her artistic friends who COULD find work had a rough time with it, because their creative spirit wanted to do what it wanted, making them feel caged by clients who paid for their own specifications and not the artist's free reign.

* Why do you think God put artistic talent and creativity into so many people, but yet hardly anyone can use it to make a living?

After all, I'm sure most people would love to be able to live on what they love rather than slogging away at a job they feel obligated to in order to support their families.

* Why is it, do you think, that God has not chosen to structure things this way, or made it so more people can live off their creativity?

I know the token "Christian" answer will probably be that God reserves a lot of our creative gifts for Himself and His glory, and maybe that's true. But it makes me sad to see the demise of sites like Etsy, where passionate homemade artists hoped to sell their works for a fair price.

After all, the Bible says "The worker deserves his wages." (1 Timothy 5:18)

* Would God want to see Christian artists be able to support themselves and their children doing what they love, or does He want our creativity to be reserved as a free gift to others or personal hobby?

I would love to hear your thoughts and stories, whether about your own artistic abilities, or of the talented people you know.

I think it's mostly our culture that hinders creative occupations from being something that really pays you.

Think about it, before the industrial revolution and the factories that came with it, people relied on the dressmakers, tailors, all the "smiths", etc. Skills like that aren't necessary these days. Especially with the takeover of technology seems like!

Why don't we all make it a goal to support our local farmers markets/craft fairs this year? I'm planning to set up and sell this summer, y'all stop by!

 

[seoulsearch]

I think it's mostly our culture that hinders creative occupations from being something that really pays you. Think about it, before the industrial revolution and the factories that came with it, people relied on the dressmakers, tailors, all the "smiths", etc. Skills like that aren't necessary these days. Especially with the takeover of technology seems like! Why don't we all make it a goal to support our local farmers markets/craft fairs this year? I'm planning to set up and sell this summer, y'all stop by!

EXCELLENT point -- I had completely forgotten the fact that up until recent times, these weren't hobbies, but necessary skills for everyday survival.

One of my favorite parts in one of the Little House on the Prairie books was when Pa came back from a long trip to town, and Laura wrote that he had brought Ma home "enough pretty calico to make a dress." After all, if any of the 6 members of the Ingall's family needed an article of clothing, there was no Macy's to wagon wheel on over to, or Amazon from which to order and have it drone-dropped at their cabin. Anything they wore would have to be handmade by Ma and the girls.

It's also fascinating how, say, a blacksmith's skill is now seen as something that would be appreciated by hobbyists, rather than vital for protecting home and country.

THANK YOU for bringing up this fascinating reminder.

And if you ever set up an online shop for your wares, please let us know, if you feel comfortable!

 

[Billyd]

I grew up planning to be a farmer like my father and grandfathers. I was an excellent gardener and still am, but God gave me a special talent. He gave me the ability to locate and solve problems in all types of machinery. I developed that talent and it made my family a good living and retirement.

My grandmother was the best seamstress and tailor that I have ever known. She could take a picture of any piece of clothing and make the outfit. She made numerous quilts, and crocheted all sorts of items. She used her talent to outfit her family, decorate her home, and keep many family members and others warm, but she never made a penny off her work. She was happy being a house wife and caring for others in need. Together, she and my grandfather ran a successful farm throughout the depression and post war.

I guess what I am saying is that, when God gives you a talent, develop that talent and use it. Let it glorify God, by using it, and you will be blessed. Success will not come as long as you lay back and wait.

 

[Lynx]

Hey Everyone,

I've been asking myself this question for a while, and was reminded of it during a chat with a young mom who had been an art student in college. I asked her what careers are available in art, and she said unless you want to go into graphic design, which was hard to break into (from her perspective,) or be an art teacher, there really was no way of making a living from it. And even then, it was often very restrictive of what the artist would be able to do.

This got me thinking.

I've known SO many creative people in every area you can imagine -- cooking, baking, painting, drawing, sewing, needle arts, woodwork, jewelry-making, film work, music... the list of creative talents is endless. Nearly everyone I've ever met has some kind of version of this gift.

But out of all of those people, I'm trying to think of any who were able to make a living from it -- and I can barely think of even a handful. Even then, it was usually something on the side, and not their main source of income.

The young mom I talked to said that even her artistic friends who COULD find work had a rough time with it, because their creative spirit wanted to do what it wanted, making them feel caged by clients who paid for their own specifications and not the artist's free reign.

* Why do you think God put artistic talent and creativity into so many people, but yet hardly anyone can use it to make a living?

After all, I'm sure most people would love to be able to live on what they love rather than slogging away at a job they feel obligated to in order to support their families.

* Why is it, do you think, that God has not chosen to structure things this way, or made it so more people can live off their creativity?

I know the token "Christian" answer will probably be that God reserves a lot of our creative gifts for Himself and His glory, and maybe that's true. But it makes me sad to see the demise of sites like Etsy, where passionate homemade artists hoped to sell their works for a fair price.

After all, the Bible says "The worker deserves his wages." (1 Timothy 5:18)

* Would God want to see Christian artists be able to support themselves and their children doing what they love, or does He want our creativity to be reserved as a free gift to others or personal hobby?

I would love to hear your thoughts and stories, whether about your own artistic abilities, or of the talented people you know.

Is it necessary to make money on a talent?

I think God gave a lot of talents... like, the vast majority of them... to make life better for you and the people around you, not to make money. And for sure making more money can make life better, but so can making something pretty for people to see.

I can make decent sourdough bread. I can tinker with computers. I can make soundtracks for popular songs. But my job is at a fast food factory. If I made any of those skills my job, it wouldn't be fun anymore.

And I'd have to charge you for bread. I wouldn't be at liberty to just give a piano soundtrack to a girl at church when she wanted to sing a song. I'd have to get people to pay for computer stuff. That would kind of crimp just EVERYTHING, including my personal enjoyment in being able to do something people around me find useful.

SEPARATE THOUGHT

About giving God glory, I think people don't understand why a father gives his children gifts. My dad never gave me anything just so I would say thank you, or to use it to make something that made him look better. He always gave me something because he knew I would enjoy it or find it useful.

 

[Lynx]

EXCELLENT point -- I had completely forgotten the fact that up until recent times, these weren't hobbies, but necessary skills for everyday survival.

One of my favorite parts in one of the Little House on the Prairie books was when Pa came back from a long trip to town, and Laura wrote that he had brought Ma home "enough pretty calico to make a dress." After all, if any of the 6 members of the Ingall's family needed an article of clothing, there was no Macy's to wagon wheel on over to, or Amazon from which to order and have it drone-dropped at their cabin. Anything they wore would have to be handmade by Ma and the girls.

It's also fascinating how, say, a blacksmith's skill is now seen as something that would be appreciated by hobbyists, rather than vital for protecting home and country.

THANK YOU for bringing up this fascinating reminder.

And if you ever set up an online shop for your wares, please let us know, if you feel comfortable!

COMPLETELY UNRELATED THOUGHT

Given human nature today...
Extrapolating from what I know of life back then...

I'm guessing there were a few elderly people, back in the day when cloth making became commercialized, who complained about, "People don't make their own cloth these days. They just go down to the store and BUY it. Shoot, most people don't even know how to make cloth anymore."

 

[seoulsearch]

I grew up planning to be a farmer like my father and grandfathers. I was an excellent gardener and still am, but God gave me a special talent. He gave me the ability to locate and solve problems in all types of machinery. I developed that talent and it made my family a good living and retirement.
My grandmother was the best seamstress and tailor that I have ever known. She could take a picture of any piece of clothing and make the outfit. She made numerous quilts, and crocheted all sorts of items. She used her talent to outfit her family, decorate her home, and keep many family members and others warm, but she never made a penny off her work. She was happy being a house wife and caring for others in need. Together, she and my grandfather ran a successful farm throughout the depression and post war.
I guess what I am saying is that, when God gives you a talent, develop that talent and use it. Let it glorify God, by using it, and you will be blessed. Success will not come as long as you lay back and wait.

I loved this story!! I'm sure you were a crucial aid to every place who was blessed to have working for them.

I have always liked superhero stories like Spider-Man...

But reading a real-life story of God specifically choosing you and giving you a special ability among your already uniquely blessed family made my spirit grin from ear to ear!

Reading about your family this morning was a true blessing and encouragement -- thank you so much for taking the time to share it.

 

[seoulsearch]

Is it necessary to make money on a talent?

I think God gave a lot of talents... like, the vast majority of them... to make life better for you and the people around you, not to make money. And for sure making more money can make life better, but so can making something pretty for people to see.

I can make decent sourdough bread. I can tinker with computers. I can make soundtracks for popular songs. But my job is at a fast food factory. If I made any of those skills my job, it wouldn't be fun anymore.

And I'd have to charge you for bread. I wouldn't be at liberty to just give a piano soundtrack to a girl at church when she wanted to sing a song. I'd have to get people to pay for computer stuff. That would kind of crimp just EVERYTHING, including my personal enjoyment in being able to do something people around me find useful.

SEPARATE THOUGHT

About giving God glory, I think people don't understand why a father gives his children gifts. My dad never gave me anything just so I would say thank you, or to use it to make something that made him look better. He always gave me something because he knew I would enjoy it or find it useful.

Most times when I write threads, it's purely for discussion among the audience.

Sometimes I write threads because my brain is pondering a subject like a puzzle box, rotating, twisting, flipping, and the answers other people give help me fritter out what it is that I'm actually trying to say.

These posts (thank you all!) have helped me pinpoint my exact question.

The thing I'm really trying to ask is, "Why Doesn't God Allow More People to Make a Living From Things They Enjoy, Like Their Hobbies, Instead of Having to Have Jobs They Dread?"

I know so many people (myself included,) who often have to take jobs that severely stress them out and in worse cases, they absolutely hate -- but they do so to support their families. I was thinking, "Why doesn't God make it so that more people can put food on the table by doing things they love?"

And then I realized:

1. Work wasn't necessarily meant to be enjoyable or fun. After all, the fall of humankind now meant that "You (human beings) will eat by the sweat of your brow until the day you return to the ground, since you were taken from it." (Genesis 3:19)

My Lutheran school said that Adam and Eve most likely didn't see caring for the garden of Eden as work -- until they sinned. And now, back-breaking work would forever be part of humankind's punishment.

2. It had me thinking about why I don't try to make money off my own hobbies -- because then they would seem like work, and it would no longer be fun.

This is why I've never tried to write a book or blog, and probably never will -- it would become backbreaking work (the editing, the constant polishing and rewriting, the feeling of obligation rather than spontaneous expression.)

But I also keep thinking about HopeInHim's point that these skills used to be for survival, and not hobbies.

Today's sermon was about a ministry in Africa, where one of their goals is to help get women away from abusive husbands by teaching them skills to support themselves and their children. The adoption agency I was adopted through has fundraisers to buy sewing machines for such causes.

Right now, as I'm glancing at my own sewing machine on my table, I'm thinking -- with quite a bit of guilt -- at how God has put me in a place where my hobbies are something I lazily pick up once in a while -- rather than a lifeline of support for myself and my family.

 

[Lynx]

W*rk is what I do to support my existence.

Hobbies are what I do to make my existence fun.

Friends are who make my existence mean something.

"If you love what you do, you will never w*rk a day in your life." (Sorry, I just can't use that four letter word, even as a quote.) But I've never seen that in practice. Everybody I have ever known, no matter what they do for a job and how much they like it, has had stressful days when they have to meet deadlines. They have all had days when they didn't want to get up and start w*rk, but they felt they had to push themselves and do it anyway for the money.

W*rk is just w*rk. It's not always going to be fun, for anybody. It's not supposed to be fun. That's not its function. It's the way we support our own existence.

My aunt Diane is activities director at a nursing home. She gets paid to act like a nut. (Well... Maybe it's not an act.) But sometimes she really just doesn't feel like entertaining nursing home residents. But she does it anyway.

W*rk wasn't always a four letter dirty word. Like you said, it used to be a LOT easier to exist, before the world got broken. Now it's like riding a bike with a flat tire. We can still ride, but it takes a lot more effort now. We can't just breeze along anymore.

I take great comfort in the knowledge that it is only temporary. Some want to live forever. If I had to support my existence forever like this I'd go stark raving insane. I'm not ready to die *quite* yet, but I won't be unhappy when it happens. Life is hard.

 

[Tall_Timbers]

My oldest daughter is an artist, so she majored in art since that's what she loved. Once she had her college degree she realized how much it was worth. She eventually got a job with USPS and now is working for DOT in Alaska. I hope she's still doing her art, since that was something she enjoyed.

 

[MsMediator]

Hey Everyone,

I've been asking myself this question for a while, and was reminded of it during a chat with a young mom who had been an art student in college. I asked her what careers are available in art, and she said unless you want to go into graphic design, which was hard to break into (from her perspective,) or be an art teacher, there really was no way of making a living from it. And even then, it was often very restrictive of what the artist would be able to do.

This got me thinking.

I've known SO many creative people in every area you can imagine -- cooking, baking, painting, drawing, sewing, needle arts, woodwork, jewelry-making, film work, music... the list of creative talents is endless. Nearly everyone I've ever met has some kind of version of this gift.

But out of all of those people, I'm trying to think of any who were able to make a living from it -- and I can barely think of even a handful. Even then, it was usually something on the side, and not their main source of income.

The young mom I talked to said that even her artistic friends who COULD find work had a rough time with it, because their creative spirit wanted to do what it wanted, making them feel caged by clients who paid for their own specifications and not the artist's free reign.

* Why do you think God put artistic talent and creativity into so many people, but yet hardly anyone can use it to make a living?

After all, I'm sure most people would love to be able to live on what they love rather than slogging away at a job they feel obligated to in order to support their families.

* Why is it, do you think, that God has not chosen to structure things this way, or made it so more people can live off their creativity?

I know the token "Christian" answer will probably be that God reserves a lot of our creative gifts for Himself and His glory, and maybe that's true. But it makes me sad to see the demise of sites like Etsy, where passionate homemade artists hoped to sell their works for a fair price.

After all, the Bible says "The worker deserves his wages." (1 Timothy 5:18)

* Would God want to see Christian artists be able to support themselves and their children doing what they love, or does He want our creativity to be reserved as a free gift to others or personal hobby?

I would love to hear your thoughts and stories, whether about your own artistic abilities, or of the talented people you know.

I think it comes down to what people want to pay for. Most people's priorities are to pay for food, shelter, health, etc. and then things related to the arts. This makes it difficult for artists to make a decent living. There are also a lot of amateurs in the arts; one has to be really gifted to make a living from it. If a lot of people gravitate towards your art, that could be a sign that you are gifted and you try to monetize on that. However, people are still going to pay for essentials first. I don't think too many people in the Bible made their living from the arts either. I view arts as a form of hobbies/pleasure and also a way to glorify God.