PUTTING IN THE WORK
Opening Prayer
As I come to you through your Word, Father, lift my eyes to see a wider perspective of what you are doing—in my life and in the world around me.
Read MARK 4:21–25
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
A Lamp on a Stand
21 He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? 22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”
24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
Read again a favorite passage of Scripture and thank God for the truths it contains.
Think Further
Some of Jesus’ sayings in this passage are particularly difficult to understand. What, for instance, is the meaning of ‘Those who have will be given more; as for those who do not have, even what they have will be taken from them’ (v. 25, TNIV)? Is this justification for the adage that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer? On a similar front, sociologist Robert K Merton was inspired by Matthew’s version of this verse1 to coin the phrase ‘the Matthew effect.’ This describes the tendency for established scientists to get the credit for discoveries younger scientists have also made, simply because they are better known.2
Jesus, however, is not saying that he supports the ‘haves’ over the ‘have-nots.’ His words are a continuation of his teaching on parables begun in the parable of the sower. He is exhorting people to put effort into growing in their understanding of his teaching by stating the principle true of all learning – that the more effort we put in, the more we will understand. His warning that those ‘who do not have’ will lose even what they do have, rings true for anyone who has tried to learn a language. Neglect practicing your new language skills for too long and you quickly forget what you once knew. This is true of our spiritual growth too. We need to keep putting effort in to understanding and applying God’s Word, so we don’t go backward, but keep on growing.
How can we do that? We can dig deeper. When we do not understand a passage, or if an explanation of a Bible reading doesn’t answer our questions, we can try and find out more for ourselves: read commentaries, search the internet, ask others. It’s easy to settle for what we already know, but standing still isn’t really an option in God’s kingdom.
Apply
What do you think you can do to ensure that you continue to grow in your understanding and application of God’s Word?
Closing prayer
Jesus, there was nothing that you withheld for my sake and I want to keep nothing from you. Help me to commit everything I am and have to you.
1 Matt 13:12 2 http://www.garfield.library.upenn.edu/merton/matthew1.pdf
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