Wondering, Wandering, and Writing

While reading in the book of Mark recently, I came across a verse that seems straight-forward.  “For whoever has, more will be given to him, and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”  (Mark 4:25 CSB) Essentially, if you have stuff, you will get more; if you don’t have stuff, it will be taken away.  In a way, this makes a lot of sense.  We’ve all seen the rich get richer while the poor get poorer. But I’ve long wondered just how it is that you take something away from a person who doesn’t have it in the first place.  This morning more questions started running through my mind.  What is it?  How do you take something that isn’t there?  How does this align with other scripture?  So this is where my mind wondered and some things I found as I read more.

First things first – context.  This verse follows two parables about the kingdom of God. One is a story of a farmer sowing seed. Scripture includes the explanation of this one, so we don’t have to figure it out.  Some people hear the word of God and reject it.  Some hear it and are over-joyed but stick with it a very short time.  Others hear it but get sidetracked with the worries of life and don’t share the gospel.  Others hear it and share it, resulting in many other people deciding to follow Jesus and his teachings. The next parable is about putting a lamp on a stand rather than under the bed.  Again, the message is to live so that other people see the love of God.  And then these two verses about hearing if you have ears and getting more if you already have whatever it is.

What is “it”?  What is this thing that you get more of if you already have it?  Note that you don’t work for more of it, it is given to you.  Since this is after two stories about spiritual growth, I doubt “it” is anything material. Perhaps it is has a spiritual meaning.

A short backstory.  When I was a teenager, Grandpa Bright gave me a copy of The Amplified Bible.  It’s a little different – a little difficult to read because there are words in parentheses and some in brackets and footnotes and oh my word! Why would anyone try to read this???  A little patience and reading the information at the front of the book explained why all the extra words and markings.  I learned to read once skipping over all the extra stuff, and then to go back and use the additional information.  Before study Bibles with lots of commentary on the side of the page and footnotes with alternate interpretations, and decades before the internet with all its study tools, there was The Amplified Bible.  All those extras are like a mentor explaining the scriptures.

Here is Mark 4:24-25 from The Amplified Bible.
Then He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By your own standard of measurement [that is, to the extent that you study spiritual truth and apply godly wisdom] it will be measured to you [and you will be given even greater ability to respond]—and more will be given to you besides.“For [fn]whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a yearning for truth], even what he has will be taken away from him.”

Aha!  An understanding of the verse based on spiritual things not physical stuff!  How many times have we seen a person with a well-worn Bible, and they’re still digging into the Word even while they can tell you many, many things from the Scriptures?  The more we stay in God’s word, the more knowledge of Scripture we gain.  The more we commune with God – both talking to Him and taking time to be quiet and listen for the still, small voice, the more we understand about God, his plan for the world, and our part in that plan.  God gives more and more understanding to those who continue to pursue knowing Him more.

So why is it being taken away if you’re not being given more?  Each of us is born with a longing for something that is bigger than ourselves and full of purpose.  If you ignore that tug to know God long enough, the desire goes away. Scripture is clear that God’s desire is for all to willingly worship him.  Scripture says and life affirms that not all will choose to follow him. If you repeatedly ignore that tug to find the something bigger and more meaningful, even the desire to connect with God will go away.

I pray that you will search for him, so that you are given more – more of his presence, more of his strength, more of his peace.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. – Jerimiah 29:13 NIV 

Come near to God and he will come near to you – James 4:8 NIV

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