We define creativity as the ability to come up with ideas that are new and useful. Creativity differs from imagination in that creativity is useful and productive. Your imagination can run riot and light up your mind in any way you choose. However, creativity is characterized by its utility, and knowledge is required to transform vague imaginations and make it useful. The Bible says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (Hosea 4:6 ESV). If you reject knowledge, you reject the chance to improve your fruitfulness.
Show me anyone manifesting their creative powers at a high level. And I will show you that the person possesses knowledge, and continues to acquire knowledge everyday. Oshiorenoya Agabi, the Nigerian founder of Koniku, is working to integrate biological neurons and silicon computer chips, to build computers that can think like humans can. Do not get carried away with the brilliant idea, but focus on the fact that he is armed with his PhD and deep knowledge in relevant fields. Elon Musk is said to be autodidact, but that is not a complete picture. We should remember that he was college educated in Physics which gave him the tools to self educate himself in rocketry, electric motors and so on.
Your imaginations will remain useless dreams unless one is equipped with the necessary knowledge to develop new ideas that are useful. What profit is there to daydream about fancy toys and world changing projects when there is no knowledge about how it can be done? You can possess the power of God to do anything, but it is of very little utility without knowledge. The quote from Hosea says God would even reject you from service if you reject knowledge. You need a vast, rich and diverse knowledge base if you want to explore your creative talents in a deep measure. Creative and inventive ideas surface on their own when we add knowledge, information and skills to a “correct” spirit untainted by lust, greed or any form of corruption.
