With connection grounding our sense of who we are, the second crucial C – capability – deals with what we do in our lives.
The acquisition of new abilities is the hallmark of childhood. Parents turn around and their kids are already doing something new. Seeing the smile of satisfaction that comes from doing things “by myself” becomes one of the highlights of the parenting experience.
In my parenting course, the issue that arose for parents around capability involved reminding parents to keep encouraging their children to become responsible for taking care of themselves as they acquire the skills to do so. For instance, it might be easier to wake your kids up for school, but once they know how to tell time and work an alarm, it’s more helpful to the youngsters’ maturation to make them responsible for rising on their own.
God has no problem with this concept. The Lord is always advocating for us to pursue what we have the proficiency to do. In Genesis 1 God charges humanity with the responsibility of caring for the earth – using the plants and animals the Lord has given in order to thrive. The story of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden (Genesis 2-3) stands out as an example of God giving humans too little to do. Everything they needed was available for them and they only had to follow one commandment – not to eat the forbidden fruit – and still they got into trouble. Most of the stories of the Bible show the Lord calling people to do things – Abram to leave his home, Moses to lead God’s people out of Egypt, Gideon to defend Israel with only 300 soldiers (Judges 6-8) – to name only a few. In all instances God pledged to be beside these persons, guaranteeing their ultimate success as a partnership between the human and divine.
God cheers for our attainment of capability. The Lord wants us to be smart, strong, and hardworking. We are also called to be engaged in our work, committed to good outcomes, to fairness, to excellence. Think of how God handpicked the people for Moses who would construct and fashion the sacred elements of worship in the Tabernacle:
“See what I’ve done; I’ve personally chosen Bezalel … I’ve filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him skill and know-how and expertise in every kind of craft to create designs and work in gold, silver, and bronze; to cut and set gemstones; to carve wood—he’s an all-around craftsman.
“Not only that, but I’ve given him Oholiab … to work with him. And to all who have an aptitude for crafts I’ve given the skills to make all the things I’ve commanded you” (Exodus 31:1-6).
Rememer how many times Jesus healed people who actively sought His cures.
“A blind man was sitting beside the road asking for handouts. When he heard the rustle of the crowd, he … yelled, ‘Jesus! Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!’ …
Jesus stopped and … asked, ‘What do you want from me?’
He said, ‘Master, I want to see again.’
Jesus said, ‘Go ahead—see again! Your faith has saved and healed you!’” (Luke 18:35-43).
Let’s get this clear, however. God’s encouragement of our capability is not an exhortation for us to fend for ourselves. Instead, the Lord desires to work with us in whatever we do. The Bible’s stories stand as good examples of God’s commitment to be beside us in whatever difficulties we encounter in doing what the Lord calls us to do. At the same time they demonstrate the consequences that result when people don’t enlist God’s guidance. The Bible itself is a further illustration of the Lord’s collaboration with humans: the Holy Spirit inspired but did not write the text.
God is anxious for us to become capable people – to experience the joy and satisfaction of doing a job well. Yet, humans have trouble with the notion of capability. Next week I’ll look at the ways that the power of “I can” can be corrupted by the allure of power as its own end.
For updates on my book, or more information about me, continue to check back to this blog! I will also be frequently updating my Facebook Author page found here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Katie-Hoyt-McNabb/1473116102939321, as well as my twitter account, @AuthorMcNabb.
