More Will Be Given
Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.” Luke 8:18 NKJV.
Reading this verse again recently I remembered how it seems to bug me a little, it worries me about what it is saying. I mean, fancy the Bible being so direct, so harsh. Surely God wouldn’t take stuff away from us which we don’t even have? Is this favouritism? The have-nots get even less and those that have will get more.
But I remembered that the Bible is amazing. We can read it, and meditate on it, and study it. The level of revelation we receive, goes up with the more time and effort we give to it. Reading is good, meditating on the Scriptures reveals more truth, and study unlocks even more. Joyce Meyer says, “we should not just read the Bible, but we should study it”. Because it’s there in that intensive, focused and committed look at the Word of God, that the Holy Spirit reveals things to us.
So be a reader of the Bible — yes. But also be a student of the Bible. A life-long learner, hungry to know and grow in the things of God and His Word.
In my study of this verse I discovered some great things.
Therefore take heed how you hear.
It’s great to hear the Word of God, but it’s much better to be careful how we hear. Jesus is warning His listeners to actively prepare the soil of their heart and mind, and to judge themselves as hearers at least as much as they judge the preacher.
So I thought about my hearing system. Am I hearing God’s Word and am I engaging the Word with my heart, my mind, and my will? Am I putting into practice in my life all the wonderful things I am hearing in my reading and study of the Bible? Is revelation becoming application, and then transformation?
One thing I absolutely love in the season of life I am in now, is my mornings when I get to read, meditate, pray, study, journal and write about the Word of God. But is the Word I am hearing and seeing, and the things that are being revealed to me, being outworked into my life? Am I doing the right things? Am I a doer of the Word?
That is my heartfelt prayer, that it would be. Because revelation on its own, benefits us very little unless we are living and doing and functioning in the power of that revelation in our daily lives.
How’s your hearing system? Eager to hear? And equally eager to do, to obey?
I love what David Guzik says, then quotes C H Spurgeon:
“Many lack because they only read and do not meditate. “It is not only reading that does us good; but the soul inwardly feeding on it, and digesting it. A preacher once told me that he had read the Bible through twenty times on his knees and had never found the doctrine of election there. Very likely not. It is a most uncomfortable position in which to read. If he had sat in an easy chair he would have been better able to understand it.” (Spurgeon)”.
The growth of revelation looks a bit like this:
Or this:
We read and receive a measure of revelation. We meditate and receive a greater revelation. But when we study, we receive even more revelation. The increased effort bears the fruit of increased revelation. And I believe God has much to show us, to reveal to us, and uncover for us. He really does.
For whoever has, to him more will be given.
This is talking about revelation, insight and understanding of God, His Word and Spiritual things. The Therefore, links what was just said, talking about a lamp (Luke 8:16) – seeing, revealed – made known. Take heed how you hear; the attitude we hear with should be a hungry heart, with humility, open to know and learn and grow, quick to repent, and slow to judge and get angry.
“More will be given: Jesus reminds us that spiritual growth follows momentum, positive or negative. When we have the godly habits of receiving the word and living it, more is built on to that. When we lose those godly habits, they are extremely difficult to get back”. — David Guzik.
More of what? I believe more of God Himself. More understanding of the Bible. More of His tangible presence in our life. More of His grace to cope with life. More spiritual awareness, perception, and capacity. Then more hunger. Which brings more revelation. Which brings more hunger. And so it goes on.
The more of God we have, the more we want and the more we will receive. The less of God and His Word we have in our life, even what we think we have will be soon gone.
Once you’ve tasted the goodness of God, how could you not want more?
Revelation from God ⇒ Should always lead us to ⇒ Relationship with God! God gives us revelation, not just to be better off or proud that we have received from God, but that we might know Him better, be closer to Him, and function in our calling.
May we have a momentum, a routine, a habit of meeting with the Lord, worshipping, reading, meditating, and studying the word, plus writing or recording insights. That habit will bear fruit; increased revelation, more insight, greater openness, deeper healing, fuller peace, cleaner conscience, stronger character, clearer perspective, more energy, increasing Bible knowledge.
May it always increase, and increase, so that I am always hearing, seeing, and then living what I hear. For Your glory Lord.
It’s a promise. More will be given. Be passionate. Be ready. Be hungry.
