You are able.

Actually, that’s an understatement.

You are abundantly able. Being able means that you have the necessary time, health, money, tools, training, experience, or talent to do something.
What Can I Do?

Have you ever considered or listed all of your abilities? Don’t look past the obvious. Are you able to breathe on your own? There are people on ventilators today who cannot. If you start with something as basic as breathing and then build your abilities list from there, you will discover that you have a vast treasure-trove of abilities. Stop focusing on what you can’t do and take time to recognize what you can do.

As Americans, we have been given so much. From freedom to health to education to technology to high-speed communications and transportation, our abilities are vastly greater than any people who have ever walked the earth. It is a very simple and yet deeply profound statement: you are able.

If you are a Christian, then you also have access to unique abilities that make you the salt and light of the world — or at least they should.
Am I Willing?

The phrase willing and able puts willing first for a reason. Generally speaking, our problem is not that we lack ability; it’s that we lack willingness. What good is ability if we are unwilling to utilize it? Here’s a great Scripture about ability:

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

This very familiar verse is often taken out of context. If you read the entire passage, Paul is writing about his ability to be content in any and every circumstance. Here is his full statement:

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13.

Christian, are you able to be content regardless of your circumstances? The answer, through the strength of Jesus Christ, is yes. Are you willing to be content? That’s a whole other question.

Let’s bring this truth down to where the rubber meets the road.

Are you able to pick up a piece of trash as your walking through the hallway of your church? For the vast majority of people reading this article, the answer is yes. If you walk past a piece of trash and don’t pick it up, the problem isn’t ability; it is unwillingness. You saw the garbage and knew it needed to be picked up. You had the physical ability, and you had access to a trash can. The reason that piece of trash remained on the floor can only be attributed to one thing: unwillingness.

But Hartzell! Someone else dropped that trash, and they should have picked it up. On top of that, cleaning the church is someone else’s responsibility, and they should have cleaned it up. I just don’t see why I should have to pick up trash!

Have you ever wondered why Jesus washed the feet of the disciples? There are two reasons. First, their feet were dirty. Second, no one else was willing to do it. Why? Because it was someone else’s responsibility. The disciples chose to sit in their own filth because they were unwilling to fix the problem. They wouldn’t even wash their own feet! They had the ability; they just weren’t willing.

Picking up trash at church is a silly example. But friends, so much of what is wrong in our world and in our churches today can be traced back to Christians who are able but unwilling. This passage, found in Colossians 3:12-17, lists many of the basic abilities that the followers of Jesus Christ have by way of God’s grace:

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body, you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Christian, are you able to be compassionate and kind and humble and gentle and patient? Are you able to forgive and to love, and to exist in unity? Are you able to be peaceful and thankful? Are you able to let the gospel live in and through you? Are you able to teach and guide others? Are you able to rejoice with singing and gratitude? Are you able to do all things with a thankful spirit? Finally, are you able to do all of these regardless of your circumstances?

The answer to all of these questions is yes. By God’s grace, you are able. We all are.

There are plenty of excuses we can offer. Like the disciples, we can sit in our own filth while blaming someone or something else. Or we can do something about it. We are able, but are we willing? The choice is ours to make.