Greater Capacity Often Means Greater Responsibility

In review of Genesis 39:4-5 it says, “Potiphar … made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the LORD began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake.” 

Bottom Line:

Having a good attitude and handling your responsibilities well, will end up blessing not only yourself but others as well.

What this means to me:

If I do well in my responsibilities and handling what I have been given rightly, God will bless not only me but those around me.

Joseph handled his situation and what he was given well.  From what I see in scriptures, I never see Joseph grumble or complain, even though he went through some horrific events in his life. He just does the best with what he was given at the time. As he did well and prospered, he was granted with more responsibilities. He seems to have a potential to grow first in small things then in the larger things.

This morning, I’m considering what my own potential for growth is and what I am doing to grow toward the next steps. I need to consider what books next to read, what skills am I going to develop next. The goal is not be the same 10 years from today.

What I’m learning is that capacity is my potential for growth. It’s important because people who increase in competence are given greater responsibility in their work. All leaders are learners. The moment I stop learning, I stop leading. Growing businesses require growing people. The moment I stop growing, the business I’m responsible for can’t grow.

I need to develop a characteristic of continual growth and learning and not insisting on doing the same thing I’ve always done but instead trying new methods and coming up with new ideas.

This is what happened with Joseph. He grew in capacity by stretching himself and learning and growing. Genesis 39:4-5 says, “Potiphar … made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the LORD began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake” (NLT).

I need to consider if God is blessing the business I work for? Are they prospering because I’m there? Do I have that kind of capacity?

When Joseph was put in charge, the Lord began to bless Potiphar for Joseph’s sake. “All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished” (Genesis 39:5b). Joseph appeared to have the capacity to do well.

When Joseph was taken to Egypt as a slave, he wasn’t able to handle all that stuff. He had to learn how to manage livestock and a household. He had to learn and grow as he was given more responsibility.

If I stop learning new skills and say, “That’s all I need to know,” I’ll end up limiting my capacity. But if I keep learning, I’ll keep growing, and God will keep blessing.

I think one practical step I can take this week is to research some leadership books, podcasts or review prior materials I have gathered on leading large organizations. Today I pray that God show me how I can increase my capacity at work and for ways for me to grow personally and professionally.