My Favorite Verses - Vol V (Feb 17 to Jun 17)
An illustrated collection of brief commentaries on some of the Bible’s most beloved (and some of its least understood) passages, parables, verses & sayings
An illustrated collection of brief commentaries on some of the Bible’s most beloved (and some of its least understood) passages, parables, verses & sayings
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Matthew 13:12 … More <strong>to</strong> be Given<br />
(04/11/20<strong>17</strong>)<br />
“For <strong>to</strong> those who truly Have, more will be given … but from those who do not<br />
Have, even what little they possess will be taken from them.” ~ Jesus (Matthew 13:12)<br />
For those mired in self-focus this verse sounds almost masochistic. Indeed,<br />
why would more be given <strong>to</strong> those who already have? And why would everything<br />
be taken away from those who already have nothing? When read on its face, it<br />
just doesn‟t seem fair. And if we are speaking from a standard, self-focused<br />
mindset, it is indeed an unjust statement – no doubt about it …<br />
And yet Jesus was quite clearly not speaking in alignment with the standard<br />
way of thinking, just as he was quite clearly not ever acting in harmony with the<br />
normal way of doing things. He had come with a very different message – one<br />
that would require others <strong>to</strong> renew their minds (Matthew 7:5) by awakening their<br />
hearts (Luke 6:35), via a way that required them <strong>to</strong> repeatedly alter their ways of<br />
dealing with one another (i.e. become repeatedly “born again” a la John 3:3-8, by<br />
actively Loving one‟s enemies a la Matthew 5:43-48 &/or actively Caring for the down<br />
trodden a la Matthew 25:35-40). Indeed -- for Jesus at least, true wealth was not<br />
related <strong>to</strong> material things at all (“either God or riches” a la Matthew 6:24), but rather<br />
was a spiritual reward that came from choosing selfless Love (the “if you would be<br />
perfect” of Matthew 19:21 et al). Yes, at least for Jesus, those who “Had” were<br />
those who were engaged in acts of willing self-sacrifice – those engaged in selfless<br />
giving – those engaged in community service – those engaged in Love. And for<br />
these people – for those fully immersed in his Way of perfect Love, more & more<br />
opportunities <strong>to</strong> serve would be given them (not only because more would be<br />
attracted there<strong>to</strong>, but also because the more one Loves the more one opens one‟s eyes <strong>to</strong><br />
Seeing the need for Love that is all around us in every moment of our lives) …<br />
Conversely, those<br />
who “do not Have”, those<br />
who refuse <strong>to</strong> care for<br />
others or refuse <strong>to</strong> give<br />
generously or refuse <strong>to</strong><br />
Love humbly, all that they<br />
have accumulated instead<br />
will become a source of<br />
suffering for them; all will<br />
be either lost or taken<br />
away or become<br />
meaningless ballast on<br />
their feeble meanderings<br />
through life.<br />
69
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