Ability

Ability is the power of skill that one has to accomplish a job (1Chr.26:8). It is different from mere potential. Potential is raw power that needs to be tamed and tuned in order to become ability. For instance, every man has the potential to become a violinist. However, only the ones who follow the discipline of learning do become able violinists. Similarly, a seed has potential for fruitbearing, but only a tree has ability to bear fruit.

Ability includes skill, capacity, competence, proficiency, efficiency, and power.

Ability and Service
Ability is the gift of God (Exo. 35:34; 1Pet.4:11)
God doesn’t require from us more than our ability (Lev.27:8; 1Pet.4:11)
God gives us responsibilities according to our ability (Matt.25:15)
We must be willing to serve according to our ability (Neh. 5:8)

Ability and Giving
God gives us ability to amass wealth (Deut. 8:18; Eccl. 5:19)
We must give according to our ability (Acts 11:29; Ezra 2:69; 2Cor.8:12)
It is possible to stretch beyond ability in sacrificial giving (2Cor. 8:3)

Ability and Trials
God gives us the ability to overcome trials (Rom. 8:37-39; Phil.4:12-13; 2Cor.12:9)
God will never test us more than we are able to (1Cor.10:13)
The Holy Spirit is along our side to help us in our weakness (Rom.8:26)

Ability Enhancement
Ability and skill comes from God (Psa.18:33,34; 144:1; Dan.1:17)
To be men of great ability is laudable (1Chr.26:6)
Diligence and discipline combine to make one efficient and outstanding (Prov. 10:4; 12:24; 1Cor.9:24-27; 2Tim.2:3-6, 15)
Ability comes with patience, not with haste (Prov.21:5)
Sometimes God intervenes to help us with revelatory skills when we are at an impasse (Dan.9:22)
God, sometimes, imparts us abilities through the laying on of hands (2Tim.1:6)
We must pay attention to keep aflame and sharpen the use of our God-given abilities (Eccl.10:10; 2Tim.1:6)