Paul said to Timothy in I Tim. 6:17, “Charge [present active imperative—‘command’ or ‘instruct’] the rich ones in this present age, that they be not high-minded [present active infinitive of u[pseloj,  hupselos = pride, +  fronew, phroneo = ‘to think’] nor to trust (place confidence) in the uncertainty of riches, but upon God, the one offering [present active participle of para + ecw, para + echo = ‘giving’] to us all things richly for enjoyment.”

1.  Capacity for living is totally dependent upon a proper response to the God Who made us, loves us, and has a fantastic plan for us.  Apart from a perpetual, ceaseless, incessant, daily intake of spiritual food, no blessing is worth having.  This is because a “blessing,” no matter what it is, without a right relationship with Jesus Christ, will never fill an empty soul.

2.  Capacity for living, then, means to move from the low road of instability and insecurity in dependence on the world-system, to the high road of stability and security in dependence on God’s grace.  This is done by self-discipline and daily concentration upon the Word of God.

3.  Capacity for life, love, and blessing, therefore, reveals that the “roadblocks” have been removed:

·         Roadblocks of the soul make it impossible to enjoy God’s blessings.

·         The Lord’s high road is not designed just for a select few, but everyone.

·         Some of the greatest tests, sufferings, problems and difficulties will occur just before a person moves up onto that high road.

·         Persist; stay with God and His Word...and move right on regardless of what anyone else says or does—it’s always darkest just before dawn.

4.    A person who becomes consistently occupied with the Lord Jesus Christ will keep the priorities straight—no bends, crooks, or curves.

5.    This grace-oriented person becomes occupied with the source of the blessings, rather than the blessings themselves.  When he/she is firmly occupied with the Blessor (the Lord) and the shower of blessings come, he/she remains completely occupied with the Lord.  His/her eyes are upon Christ before the blessings, and remain upon Him after the blessings—and will remain on Him even after the blessings are withdrawn, if the Lord so chooses.  This means that Capacity for Life (CFL) resides in the soul.

6.  Capacity for life, love and happiness derives from Occupation with the Lord (OWC) and absolutely nothing else!

7.  The only way priorities can remain straight is for a person to be consistent in Christian growth.

8.  If a person chooses to begin neglecting the Lord and His Word, he/she will begin to focus attention upon the blessings rather than the Blessor.  This will result in arrogance, and contentiousness, as vividly revealed in I Tim. 6:3–5.

9.  Love for the Blessor will cause the blessed to enjoy the blessings.

10. We must place our confidence in the Source of the blessings in order to enjoy the content of the blessings.

Conclusions:

·         As members of God’s family we are “...heirs of God and joint-heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ...” (Rom. 8:17). 

·         We are a chosen generation; a Royal Priesthood; a holy “nation”; a peculiar people (I Pet. 2:9).

·         God has provided royal blessings for royal people...but they can only be claimed by royal individuals if they have developed capacity for royalty by a process of consistent occupation with the Royal One (OWC)!

·         Royal capacity must precede the receipt of royal blessings.