Mensa Otabil - More Will Be Given
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We are continuing with our teaching on the Parable of the Sower, Matthew chapter 13, verse 12. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. These are some really radical statements from Jesus Christ, and He says more will be given to those who have. The Parable of the Sower speaks about how we receive the Word of God, and after telling the parable, Jesus made this statement, which can be rather shocking if we look at Jesus as a very generous person. He says that those who have, more will be given to them, and those who do not have, even the little that they have will be removed from them. It’s an idea that gives us something to chew on and think about.
So why would Jesus say that? We have to interpret what He says in the context of the parable. He’s not making a general statement; He’s making this statement in the context of the parable. I want you to gain clarity on what He means, so consider the seeds that fell on the hard ground, on the stony ground, and the ones that fell among the thorns. Well, the seeds that fell on the stony ground withered, and the seeds among the thorns were choked. Now, when they get choked, they’ve lost their lives. But watch what the farmer would do; he’ll go and uproot them. So the little they had in the soil, the farmer has to take them out of the soil and remove them. You can say that what they had has been taken away from them; they are not left to waste the land but are removed from it. So that’s what Jesus is speaking about.
Then look at the seed that fell on good ground and that yielded fruit. Jesus says, «He who has, more will be given.» The seed goes into the ground, it germinates, and guess what happens? It will bear fruit of far more seeds than what was planted. So if one seed was planted, probably a thousand seeds will come out. More has been given to it, and then the farmer is going to use part of the seed that was fruitful; he’s going to use part of it but will hold on to part of it for the next planting season. You find that what worked in one season is now working in another season. The seed that becomes fruitful is now becoming more abundant. It flourished in the last season and has the opportunity to flourish in this new season, continuing to flourish. That’s what Jesus means: when you receive God’s Word and it works for you in one area of your life, it begins to work in other areas as well.
So when you hear the Word, you become a doer of the Word of God. It opens new doors for God to do far more for you in your life. Our Christian life is a progressive journey; we grow from faith to faith, from grace to grace. If I believe God for my daily bread today, I can believe Him for my daily bread tomorrow. Something has been given to me today, and I can receive more tomorrow. However, if the Word of God doesn’t have application for me today, then I would abandon the Word of God altogether.
So it’s important that the Word works, and when it works, it continues working and producing more fruit. That’s what Jesus meant: «To him who has, more will be given.» He who does not apply the Word of God will have things taken away from him. May the Lord add to you and cause you to flourish abundantly. Let’s say a word of prayer; say with me, «Heavenly Father, I thank You for what You’ve done for me in the past. I trust You today and tomorrow. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.» May the Lord add to you, increase you, and cause you to abound in Jesus' name. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.