Capacity building

To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability.  Matthew 25:15

Capacity is the ability Christ gives us to carry out His commands. And capacity varies from person to person. Some people can get by on five to six hours of sleep while others require seven to eight. Where I get out of balance is when I compare my capacity with someone of greater capacity. Indeed, capacity is meant to provide guardrails, not guilt.

So how can we use capacity to our advantage instead of our disadvantage? How can we understand our limitations and trust the Lord with the results? It starts by being honest about how God has made us. If we can only execute one project with excellence, then we limit ourselves to one. If we only have the time, money, and love for two children, then we accept this as the responsible decision. Honesty about capacity is freeing for parents.

But isn’t there a way to build capacity at work, at home, and in relationships? Yes, indeed! As we remain faithful with small responsibilities, the Lord and others can trust us with additional tasks. When we manage a small amount of money on a budget, we can be trusted with more resources to steward well. When we treat one individual with a full complement of grace and truth, we build relational capacity for more quality friendships.

Furthermore, we are over capacity when cash in our bank account is overdrawn or when we have written a relational check our emotions cannot cash. Therefore, monitor your capacity in prayer before Jesus. Ask Him for courage to say no to something new so we can say yes to current obligations. As in weight lifting, we can increase our mental, emotional, financial, and relational capacity, but it takes time, focus, and discipline.

The Lord has unlimited capacity for empathy, wisdom, and character. So go to Him for your character-capacity building. Make sure your character capacity keeps up with your success, and you will be able to handle success. Does your heart have the same capacity for humility as your mind does for truth? So build capacity around Christ’s gifts to you.

“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you” (2 Corinthians 10:12–13).