"Music was made to serve a holy purpose, to lift the thoughts to that which is pure, noble, and elevating, and to awaken in the soul devotion and gratitude to God. What a contrast between the ancient custom and the uses to which music is now too often devoted! How many employ this gift to exalt self, instead of using it to glorify God! A love for music leads the unwary to unite with world-lovers in pleasure-gatherings where God has forbidden his children to go. Thus that which is a great blessing when rightly used, becomes one of the most successful agencies by which Satan allures the mind from duty and from the contemplation of eternal things." ~Christian Education 62.3
We know that whatever our hands find to do, we should do it with our might. (Eccl. 9:10). Yet we often find ourselves falling into the trap of using our talent to boost our ego. Being a musician, I am guilty of this myself. It is a sly trap, and only an unswerving focus on Jesus can keep us on the straight and narrow. A good question to ask ourselves, whether we be music-makers or music-listeners, is this: What is my attention or the attention of others drawn to the most in this music? Is it the awesomeness of our Creator, His unending love, the beauty of His character? Or is it showmanship, awesome feats, how it makes us feel?
Does this mean we ought not to strive for excellence in our praise to God? I don't think so. Psalm 33:3 says, "Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise." Also, we glorify Him by making good use of the talents that He has given us. But there is a fine balance between excellence and prideful display of what we can do.
One thing that stands paramount in my mind is this: (I am using the voice as an example.) I did not create my voice. God did. Therefore it is His. I am only His steward. Should I not be using it for His glory? We are creatures created to serve our Creator, but so often we "serve the creature more than the Creator." Romans 1:5 We think our talent is ours, and we may do whatever we like with it...when in reality, we wouldn't even have life if He didn't give it to us. And eternal life is ours because Jesus "humbled Himself and became obedient unto death." Phil. 2:8
When you think of it that way, I think we owe the glory, our lives, to Him.
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