Capacity
June 1, 2025
In our journey through life, we often find ourselves caught up in the pursuit of financial stability and success. We work hard, save diligently, and strive to create a comfortable life for ourselves and our loved ones. But what if there's more to our financial journey than just accumulating wealth? What if God has a greater purpose for our resources that goes beyond personal comfort?
The parable of the rich fool in Luke 12 challenges our conventional understanding of wealth and success. In this story, a man accumulates great wealth and decides to build bigger barns to store his abundance. He tells himself, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry." But God calls him a fool, for that very night his life would be demanded of him.
This parable isn't condemning wealth itself, but rather the attitude of hoarding and self-centeredness. The rich man's mistake wasn't in his abundance, but in his failure to be "rich toward God." This brings us to a crucial distinction: the difference between gap and capacity.
Gap refers to the distance between our income and our expenses – the margin we create in our finances. While having gap is important, it's not the end goal. Capacity, on the other hand, is about how we use that gap to further God's kingdom and bless others. It's the difference between accumulating wealth for ourselves and leveraging our resources for a greater purpose.
Think of it like a capacitor in an electrical circuit. A capacitor stores electrical energy and releases it when needed, creating a dynamic that allows for uninterrupted power flow. Similarly, when we create financial gap and insert faith into that space, we allow God to work supernaturally in our lives and through our resources.
This concept is beautifully illustrated in the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17. In the midst of a severe drought, God sends Elijah to an unlikely place – outside of Israel – to be cared for by an impoverished widow. When Elijah asks her for food, she reveals that she only has a handful of flour and a little oil left, barely enough for one last meal for herself and her son before they expect to die.
But Elijah challenges her to step out in faith. He tells her to make him a small cake first, promising that her flour and oil will not run out until the drought ends. The widow takes this leap of faith, putting God first with her meager resources, and witnesses a miraculous provision that sustains her household throughout the famine.
This story teaches us powerful lessons about creating capacity in our lives:
1. God often works through unlikely people and circumstances.
2. Our current limitations don't limit God's ability to work through us.
3. Putting God first, even with our "last bit," opens the door for miraculous provision.
So how do we practically apply these principles in our lives? Here are some key steps:
1. Create gap: Look for ways to increase your income or decrease your expenses to create financial margin.
2. Develop a "kingdom-first" mindset: Instead of asking "What can I do with my money?" ask "What does God want to do through my resources?"
3. Start where you are: Don't wait until you have "enough" to start being generous. Like the widow, offer what you have now in faith.
4. Invest in eternal things: Use your resources to further God's kingdom, bless others, and make a lasting impact.
5. Trust God's provision: When you step out in faith, trust that God will meet your needs as you prioritize His purposes.
It's important to note that this isn't about irresponsible giving or neglecting our financial responsibilities. Rather, it's about cultivating a heart that sees our resources as tools for God's purposes, not just our own comfort.
Consider the story of a couple who, despite financial challenges, decided to sell their duplex and use the equity to become debt-free. They downsized to a small apartment, living frugally while trusting God with their finances. Over time, as they continued to put God first, they experienced unexpected blessings – better job opportunities, the ability to generously support missions, and a newfound freedom to serve God in ways they never imagined.
This journey of creating capacity isn't always easy. It often requires sacrifice, faith, and a willingness to go against cultural norms. But the rewards – both spiritual and material – can be extraordinary.
As we reflect on these principles, let's challenge ourselves to see our finances through God's eyes. Are we simply creating gap, or are we developing true capacity? Are we hoarding our resources like the rich fool, or are we positioning ourselves to be channels of God's blessing like the widow of Zarephath?
Remember, it's not about the size of our bank account, but about the size of our faith and our willingness to put God first. When we create gap and insert the "capacitor" of faith, we open ourselves up to experience God's supernatural provision and purpose for our lives.
So let's take a step back and evaluate our financial mindset. Are we truly rich toward God? Are we using our resources – whether abundant or scarce – to further His kingdom? As we align our hearts and our finances with God's purposes, we may find that He does far more through us than we ever thought possible.
In the end, true wealth isn't measured by the size of our barns or the balance of our bank accounts. It's measured by our capacity to be used by God, to bless others, and to store up treasures in heaven. May we all strive to create not just financial gap, but kingdom capacity in our lives.
The parable of the rich fool in Luke 12 challenges our conventional understanding of wealth and success. In this story, a man accumulates great wealth and decides to build bigger barns to store his abundance. He tells himself, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry." But God calls him a fool, for that very night his life would be demanded of him.
This parable isn't condemning wealth itself, but rather the attitude of hoarding and self-centeredness. The rich man's mistake wasn't in his abundance, but in his failure to be "rich toward God." This brings us to a crucial distinction: the difference between gap and capacity.
Gap refers to the distance between our income and our expenses – the margin we create in our finances. While having gap is important, it's not the end goal. Capacity, on the other hand, is about how we use that gap to further God's kingdom and bless others. It's the difference between accumulating wealth for ourselves and leveraging our resources for a greater purpose.
Think of it like a capacitor in an electrical circuit. A capacitor stores electrical energy and releases it when needed, creating a dynamic that allows for uninterrupted power flow. Similarly, when we create financial gap and insert faith into that space, we allow God to work supernaturally in our lives and through our resources.
This concept is beautifully illustrated in the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17. In the midst of a severe drought, God sends Elijah to an unlikely place – outside of Israel – to be cared for by an impoverished widow. When Elijah asks her for food, she reveals that she only has a handful of flour and a little oil left, barely enough for one last meal for herself and her son before they expect to die.
But Elijah challenges her to step out in faith. He tells her to make him a small cake first, promising that her flour and oil will not run out until the drought ends. The widow takes this leap of faith, putting God first with her meager resources, and witnesses a miraculous provision that sustains her household throughout the famine.
This story teaches us powerful lessons about creating capacity in our lives:
1. God often works through unlikely people and circumstances.
2. Our current limitations don't limit God's ability to work through us.
3. Putting God first, even with our "last bit," opens the door for miraculous provision.
So how do we practically apply these principles in our lives? Here are some key steps:
1. Create gap: Look for ways to increase your income or decrease your expenses to create financial margin.
2. Develop a "kingdom-first" mindset: Instead of asking "What can I do with my money?" ask "What does God want to do through my resources?"
3. Start where you are: Don't wait until you have "enough" to start being generous. Like the widow, offer what you have now in faith.
4. Invest in eternal things: Use your resources to further God's kingdom, bless others, and make a lasting impact.
5. Trust God's provision: When you step out in faith, trust that God will meet your needs as you prioritize His purposes.
It's important to note that this isn't about irresponsible giving or neglecting our financial responsibilities. Rather, it's about cultivating a heart that sees our resources as tools for God's purposes, not just our own comfort.
Consider the story of a couple who, despite financial challenges, decided to sell their duplex and use the equity to become debt-free. They downsized to a small apartment, living frugally while trusting God with their finances. Over time, as they continued to put God first, they experienced unexpected blessings – better job opportunities, the ability to generously support missions, and a newfound freedom to serve God in ways they never imagined.
This journey of creating capacity isn't always easy. It often requires sacrifice, faith, and a willingness to go against cultural norms. But the rewards – both spiritual and material – can be extraordinary.
As we reflect on these principles, let's challenge ourselves to see our finances through God's eyes. Are we simply creating gap, or are we developing true capacity? Are we hoarding our resources like the rich fool, or are we positioning ourselves to be channels of God's blessing like the widow of Zarephath?
Remember, it's not about the size of our bank account, but about the size of our faith and our willingness to put God first. When we create gap and insert the "capacitor" of faith, we open ourselves up to experience God's supernatural provision and purpose for our lives.
So let's take a step back and evaluate our financial mindset. Are we truly rich toward God? Are we using our resources – whether abundant or scarce – to further His kingdom? As we align our hearts and our finances with God's purposes, we may find that He does far more through us than we ever thought possible.
In the end, true wealth isn't measured by the size of our barns or the balance of our bank accounts. It's measured by our capacity to be used by God, to bless others, and to store up treasures in heaven. May we all strive to create not just financial gap, but kingdom capacity in our lives.