The One Who Has

Scripture:

"Take care how you hear, for the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks he has will be taken away." (Luke 8:18)

Observation:

I have always wondered what this scripture meant. I guess it refers to our understanding of God's word, or maybe our efforts to understand and search out the word of God. I think it also refers to using what has been given to us. It reminds me of the distribution of the talents(Matthew 25) where the faithful servants were given more, but the unfaithful servant was thrown into hell(where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth). It sounds more serious than we make this verse out to be sometimes.

Application:

When I read this scripture it always motivates me to go full force for the Kingdom of God. I'm not saying I always succeed in going full force for the kingdom, but this scripture does motivate me. God has given me so much, and revealed so many things to me. I guess reading the Bible would be a good example of this scripture: There are those who have Bibles, maybe really nice Bibles with their names on the front in gold, but they never open and read. Unfaithful servants. But then there are those, who have highlighted their Bibles so much that every page is some color of neon. Those who hunger and thirst after the word of God. Those who faithfully study the word. Faithful servants.

Another comparison: There are those who read their Bibles everyday, maybe great theologians even, but they never share the gospel with anyone. They're all about head knowledge, Pastor Steve calls them "Bible Fat-heads". But then on the other hand, you have the person who has been sharing the gospel with people ever since he first cracked open his Bible, maybe even before that. The whole point of reading the Bible is learn how to live the Christian life, and learn the Gospel of truth that sets people free.

I want to be one of the faithful servants, the one Jesus says he will give more to because he has.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for what you have given me. You have given me heaven when I deserve hell, you have given me life when I deserve death. Please help me to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ everywhere I go. In Jesus name, Amen.