By today’s culture, many likely read on the surface the following verse and think, “That is not fair.” More and more people are indoctrinated by the teaching of men with man’s concept of fair and somehow everyone is supposed to have equal outcomes.
25“For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”
This same message is included in Luke 8:18 and Matthew 13:12 in the same context as Yeshua talks to His disciples about the parable of the sower.
There will never be equal outcomes because everyone is different and makes different choices. In fact, we are made intentionally different to serve the purposes of Yahweh (Romans 9) and for the purpose of functioning as the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12).
It is important to put aside man’s view of “fair” and listen to what Yahweh’s word actually says. Do not miss the context. Yeshua was speaking to the disciples about why He taught in parables.
10As soon as He was alone, [b]His followers, along with the twelve disciples, began asking Him about the parables. 11And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but for those who are outside, everything comes in parables, 12so that WHILE SEEING THEY MAY SEE, AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR, AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND IT WOULD BE FORGIVEN THEM.”
We may think it is unfair, but what we think does not define what is right. What the LORD says is right, is right, whether or not we understand it. Clearly the LORD is making a distinction about the level of knowledge of the kingdom of Yahweh that is being entrusted to the disciples vs. others who may come to hear what Yeshua was teaching. Some are given more insight and some very little.
To further clarify the bottom line of the message, it is helpful to review the parable of the talents in which Yeshua makes the same statement about those having more getting more and those having little, losing even what they have. The key is that those who are obedient in little things will be entrusted with much and will be given more. Those who can not be trusted with little things, will lose even what they have. This includes insights and wisdom about the kingdom, not just money.
Parable of the Talents
14“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15“To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16“Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17“In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18“But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19“Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20“The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
22“Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
24“And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25‘And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
26“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
29“For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30“Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
I invite you to pray with me:
Father, please guide me in Your wisdom. Please open my eyes to the truth of Your kingdom and how I should live. Help me to be trustworthy and obedient so that You would trust me with more. Let me never take for granted what You have given me so that I would lose it. Amen.
Shalom
Devotion by John in service to Christ
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