Spiritual Gift of Creativity in the Marketplace
The spiritual gift of creativity is the special ability to spread the awareness of God’s glory by creating things and/or new ways of doing things.
Marketplace Christians with the spiritual gift of creativity reveal the creative power and genius of God in the business world. In the marketplace, people with this spiritual gift often are referred to as “innovators” and “disruptors” of the status quo in their respective industries.
Spiritual Gift Recognition Statements
- “I have created many new things and/or new ways of doing things.”
- “I enjoy creating and/or inventing new things and new ways of doing things.”
- “People have told me that I am a very creative person.”
Marketplace Impact
Sensing the call to become “God’s businessman,” R.G. LeTourneau decided to use his God-given gift of creativity in the marketplace. He was awarded 299 patents for his earth-moving and materials handling equipment. These inventions included bulldozers, scrapers, portable cranes, rollers, dump wagons, bridge spans, logging equipment, mobile sea platforms for oil exploration, the electric wheel, and many others. Approximately 70 percent of the earth-moving equipment used by the Allies to win World War II was manufactured by his company.
LaTourneau was committed to using his business as a tool for making disciples of Jesus. He hired full-time chaplains to work in his factories, caring for his workers and teaching the Bible to them. He admonished his fellow business owners, “Unless we businessmen… testify that Christianity is the driving power of our business, you’ll always have doubters claiming that religion is all talk and no production.”[i]
Biblical Insights
- Exodus 31:1-11
- Acts 18:2-3
[i] Mover of Men and Mountains: The Autobiography of R.G. LeTourneau (Chicago: Moody Press, 1967), 203.
Discussion: Do you have the spiritual gift of creativity? If so, please share how you use this spiritual gift in a business setting. Can you think of any other marketplace Christians who use this spiritual gift in a business setting? If so, please share his/her story to encourage other marketplace Christians who have this spiritual gift.
