Growing Capacity Vs. Building Character

We often hear sermons, devotionals, teachings, etc. about the importance of building character. Being honest, loyal, humble, respectful, responsible, compassionate, patient, of integrity… I think we can all agree that these are extremely important characteristics to have and grow in.

How we grow in these is pretty straight forward. Like a muscle, we exercise them to make them grow. It’s definitely not easy, and takes a lot of work, but over time, in working out the same muscle, it will get easier and stronger. A classic joke being don’t pray for patience because God will then put you in situations in which you’ll have to practice patience (exercise that muscle) since that is how we become... well, more patient.

Don’t get me wrong, there is still a reliance on the Holy Spirit to help us grow our character, but there is also a lot of effort on our part… work to do, if you will.

And it’s extremely important.

What we don’t talk about very often, however, is what it looks like when God wants to grow our capacity… to expand our souls for more. And in my opinion, this is much more difficult. Let me explain.

In contrast to building character and being given something to do or practice, growing capacity usually comes from a having it all taken away… and we don’t know what to do.

With building character there’s a purpose. With growing capacity we feel stripped of one.

With building character we have a sense of direction. With growing capacity we feel completely lost and directionless.

As a culture that prides itself in its work and accomplishments, it is very disorienting when all of that seems to have been taken away. And, unfortunately, it’s not much different when it comes to our spiritual journey. We want to strive, grow, and get better, not be forced to stop, be stripped of all we know, and feel like all has been lost or wasted.

But what if this feeling of regression wasn’t that at all, but something much different… better even? What is the Lord’s invitation in this place?

Briefly looking at the story in 2 Kings 4:1-7, there is a beautiful illustration of this. A woman had just lost her husband, one of the prophets alongside Elisha, and then was about to have her two sons taken from her, as slaves, to pay off a debt her husband had left. All was being stripped away. The only thing she had remaining was a small flask of olive oil.

Feeling stuck and desperate, she asked Elisha, a prophet of God, what to do. In other words, she was searching for God.

What he instructed her to do is fascinating. Instead of telling her to ask all her neighbors for extra olive oil to go and sell, he tells her to ask them for empty jars.

He’s growing her capacity…

After all the empty jars were collected, he tells her to take them inside her home and to fill them up using her small flask of oil. So she does. And after every jar is filled up, the small flask runs out of oil.

A miracle!

The other caveat here, that was pointed out in last week’s sermon at my church, is that olive oil was a symbol of God’s presence.

So not only was this widow able to sell all the jars of oil and pay off the debt, there was enough left over to support her and her sons for the future.

All of her practical needs were met... beyond what she even asked for!

But also...

While stripped of all she knew, God grew her capacity to hold more of his presence in such a deep and personal way! He didn't just want to meet her basic needs. He wanted to give himself to her too.

I think it’s important to note here that I am not saying God killed her husband for this purpose. I don’t know how or why her husband died. And just like the many sufferings we experience, there is often no rhyme or reason except that we live in a broken world.

What I am saying, however, is that we will all experience pain and suffering. It’s a part of life. But no matter what we go through, I believe there is always an invitation from the Lord in it. And often times, I believe God uses these to expand our hearts, minds, and souls to be able to hold more, and be filled with more, of him and his presence. And truly, there is nothing more life changing!

So if you find yourself in a dark space, a hole, a desert, directionless, with nothing… perhaps God is inviting you to grow your capacity for more!

Be encouraged!