DaVinci’s Priceless Art

Several months ago I heard about a sketch by Leonardo da Vinci that is less than 8 square inches. It is a small sketch of a bear’s head that was made using a technique that involves marking chemically treated paper with silver rods or wire. It was auctioned off for over 12 million dollars. It’s lovely, of course, but I wonder what da Vinvi would say if knew this little piece of his work would one day be worth more money than he could imagine. 

Now, you may not be an artist like da Vinci (or maybe you are!), but I am sure that you invest time, talent and money into something. What is it? Do you love to cook and invest your time and effort into perfecting that delicious recipe? Do you love all things fitness and spend your time exercising and living healthfully? Do you have children or aging parents and spend your time caring for them? Do you love music and spend time making and listening to and practicing music? God has given all of us talents, dreams and tasks. 

Solomon was given the task of building a temple for the ark of the covenant – the symbol of God’s physical presence among his people. He appointed a workman named Hiram from Tyre to carve ornate designs into the temple’s columns. Some of these intricate designs would not even be visible to human eyes. And yet, Hiram worked beautiful designs of pomegranates and lilies into the bronze to make God’s house something that reflected God’s majesty and creativity. 

The cathedrals are some of the most incredible buildings I’ve seen, and yet their architects and workmen are largely unknown. People invested their lives into these grand structures and many did not live to see them completed. Although they wouldn’t see the final product, these people believed in the importance of what they were called to do. They believed that their work, although perhaps unseen by people, was seen by God. 

I think all of us want to be recognized for our efforts. I know I do. In fact, I tend to get a little cranky when I feel unappreciated and taken advantage of. Yet, Colossians 3:23-24 tells us, “And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ.” (The Message) 

There are some jobs that we do that will never be recognized here on earth, and yet our Father sees that work and blesses it. We are told that “whatever [our] hand finds to do, do it with all [our] might. (Ecclesiastes 9:10a NIV). Remember that you are like the great cathedral builders, working on something incredible in order to point others to the Father. 

Leonardo da Vinci had no idea that this small piece of art would be sold for millions of dollars, and yet he invested himself into that picture. Now, hundreds of years later, his talent and work are being praised by others. Perhaps our work won’t be recognized until long after we are gone, but I pray we can be like da Vinci and invest our time and talent into something priceless. Matthew 6:1 and 4b says, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven…And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”