If you want a living definition of skill you need to meet Danny MacAskill.
Danny rides bicycles. I know, I know! That doesn't sound very impressive. But just CLICK HERE to watch his video. When you do, you will understand why it has been viewed 25 million times. He's got skill! Look closely, the letters S-K-I-L-L are even embedded in his name.
What is skill? It is intimate knowledge turned into a special ability which gets transformed into creations of wonder and beauty.[1] Skill is important to God. He talks about it a lot.
- When the boys grew up, Esau was a SKILLFUL hunter... Genesis 25:27 NIV
- And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with SKILLFUL hands he led them. Psalm 78:72 NIV
- Tell all the SKILLED workers to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration... Exodus 28:3 NIV
- Do you see someone SKILLED in their work? They will serve before kings...
- Proverbs 22:29 NIV
God's enthusiasm for expertise should not surprise us. Gaze at any evening sky, stand at the rim of the Grand Canyon, or consider the incomparable complexity of the human body. All are the result of the skillful work of our artful Creator.
But skill doesn't stop with God. We bear his image (Genesis 1:26). And as image bearers, we are endowed by our creator with skill. So here's the question: What are we doing with it?
Danny's video got me thinking: What would it look like for me to have that degree of skill in my work? I will never ride a bike like Danny, but God has enabled me to do certain things well. You too! So how are we doing at sharpening the skills God has given us?
Eleanor Powellwas a tap-dancing sensation who whirled on the floor with the famed Fred Astaire. She once said, "What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God."
What one thing can you do today to improve your skill for God's glory?
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[1] This definition is an adaptation and expansion of some excellent work done by the authors of Life@Work.