Prepare For More

Most of the words of Jesus are pretty understandable. They may be difficult to do, but we can usually understand what’s being said. Yet, there are some passages that are puzzling. Listen to this passage from Luke 8.. “Take heed then how you hear; for to him who has, will more be given, and from him who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.” (Luke 8:18)  Yikes. 

In the “ parable of the talents” from Matthew 25:14-29, Jesus ends with a very similar passage, “for to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

In some way it doesn’t seem fair; it doesn’t seem loving. Shouldn’t we “share and share alike”? But I think there may be a spiritual law in play here. It’s somewhat like the physical law of gravity. If you fall out of an airplane, the acceleration due to gravity of 9.8 meters per second per second is going to get you to the ground very quickly. It’s just the way it works. You can flap your arms and say “stop”, but gravity is going to have its way. 

I was thinking about getting an invitation to sit down to talk Physics with Albert Einstein. Let’s be honest, unless Albert knew a few jokes, I would not benefit from being with him, and he would probably cast me into the darkness. I don’t understand the basics, I fell asleep in my Physics 101 class…I’m just not able to understand or benefit from this session with Al. Yet “ to the one who has, more will be given to him”… the excellent physics student who has an understanding of the basics, will be able to receive more… he has a lot, so he can be given more. The very good pianist will be able to learn and receive from a session with  Mozart ; a very good cellist will benefit and learn and appreciate a session with Yo-Yo Ma. To be honest Wolfgang and Yo-Yo should not schedule any time with me. Again, I may want to learn and receive, but I’m not in position to do so. Okay Dave, what’s the point? Ready ?

As we hear and obey the word of God in our life, we will be in a better position to receive more from the Lord. He can take us deeper; we will understand more. Look at the stories in scripture. The Lord built a foundation with the apostles and over time was able to share more of the principles of the kingdom of God; he could share about his redemption of mankind thru his death and resurrection. He could only give them more after they had been given and received much. For those who rejected the basic invitation, what they had usually disappeared… was taken away.

Near the end of his earthly life, Jesus told his disciples “ I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:12-13) There’s always more. God has more for us. But we need to work to embrace that which he has already given us in order to be ready to receive more. By his grace we can do this. He will help us.  

Let’s keep our hearts open to all the Lord wants to give us, knowing that there’s always more and it’s going to be wonderful. Yo-Yo Ma may be a virtuoso on the cello, but wait until the world hears you living and sharing about the love of the Lord.  Wow, that is very good news.