"To Those Who Have, More Will Be Given" — One of Jesus' Most Misunderstood Teachings
- Jul 19
- 5 min read
Updated: 9 hours ago
At first glance, it sounds unfair. "Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them."
Really? Isn't that the opposite of how God works? Jesus wasn't praising inequality. He was revealing a spiritual law that governs growth, responsibility, and the condition of the human heart.
The more I sit with these verses, the more I realize they describe something we see every day—in our faith, relationships, careers, health, and even our ability to hear God's voice.
The Verse
Jesus says this several times in the Gospels. One of the clearest versions is:
"For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them."— Matthew 13:12
A similar statement appears in:
Each appears in a slightly different context, but together they paint a consistent picture.
Context Changes Everything
The first occurrence comes after Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower. The disciples ask why He speaks in parables.
Jesus replies:
"Whoever has will be given more... Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them."
He's talking about spiritual understanding. Those who genuinely seek truth receive more truth. Those who reject the little light they've already been given gradually lose even their ability to recognize truth. Think about that. God isn't randomly deciding who gets wisdom. Our response to what we've already received determines whether our capacity grows or shrinks.
A Principle We See Everywhere
Imagine two people learning piano. Both begin with the same ability. One practices twenty minutes every day. The other never touches the instrument. A year later, the first person seems "naturally gifted." The second has actually lost skills they once had. The same principle applies spiritually. Faith grows through use. Wisdom grows through obedience. Compassion grows through practice. Generosity grows by giving. Neglect causes decline.
The Parable of the Talents Makes It Even Clearer
In Matthew 25, a master gives servants different amounts of money ("talents"). Two invest what they've been given. One buries his talent out of fear. At the end, Jesus says:
"For whoever has will be given more... Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them."
Notice something important.
The servant wasn't condemned because he had little.
He was judged because he did nothing with what he had.
God measures faithfulness more than quantity.
Another Connection: The Lamp Under a Basket
In Mark 4 Jesus says:
"Consider carefully what you hear... With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more."
Then He immediately says:
"Whoever has will be given more..."
The connection is striking. If you treasure truth......you receive more truth. If you ignore truth......your ability to recognize it diminishes. This explains why two people can hear the same sermon. One leaves transformed. The other leaves unchanged. The difference isn't intelligence. It's receptivity.
The Soil of the Heart
The Parable of the Sower illustrates four kinds of hearts.
The seed is the same.
The difference is the soil.
Some hearts are hardened.
Some are shallow.
Some are crowded by worries and wealth.
Some are receptive.
The fruitful heart doesn't simply hear God's word.
It welcomes it.
Nurtures it.
Lives it.
The result?
Thirty-, sixty-, even one hundred-fold growth.
Again: Those who "have" receptive hearts receive more.
This Principle Appears Throughout Scripture
1. Faith grows by exercising faith
James writes:
"Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
Faith isn't merely believed. It is lived.
Every act of obedience strengthens trust.
2. Wisdom increases through humility
Proverbs repeatedly teaches that wisdom belongs to those willing to be taught.
Proud people stop learning. Humble people never stop growing.
3. Gratitude multiplies joy
The Apostle Paul encourages believers to give thanks in all circumstances. Grateful people notice blessings others overlook. Their lives may not contain more gifts......but they experience more joy.
4. Love expands when shared
Jesus teaches:
"Give, and it will be given to you."
Love isn't diminished by giving. It expands. Forgiveness works the same way. So does mercy.
What This Looks Like Today
This teaching isn't just about church.
It's visible everywhere.
Relationships
People who consistently invest in relationships usually build deeper friendships. Those who neglect them often find those connections fading.
Learning
Read regularly.
Stay curious.
Ask questions.
Your capacity to understand grows.
Stop learning......and knowledge slowly fades.
Character
Every decision shapes the next one.
Choose honesty repeatedly.
Honesty becomes easier.
Choose compromise repeatedly.
Compromise becomes natural.
We become what we repeatedly practice.
Prayer
Some people say, "I don't hear God." Perhaps the better question is: "What happened the last time I sensed His direction?" If we ignore God's promptings, our sensitivity can dull. If we respond faithfully—even in small things—we often become more attentive to His guidance over time.
This Isn't About Earning God's Love
This is important. Jesus isn't saying God loves productive people more. Grace is not a reward for performance. Salvation is a gift. But gifts still invite a response. A seed is free.
Growth requires tending.
Questions Worth Asking Ourselves
Rather than asking,
"Why isn't God giving me more?"
Perhaps we begin here.
About my heart
Am I genuinely seeking truth, or only looking for ideas that confirm what I already believe?
When Scripture challenges me, do I listen or become defensive?
Have I become spiritually comfortable?
About obedience
What is the last thing I sensed God asking me to do?
Did I obey?
Am I waiting for bigger guidance while ignoring smaller steps?
About gratitude
Am I focused on what I lack more than what I've been entrusted with?
Do I notice God's daily gifts?
About stewardship
Am I using my abilities, resources, and opportunities for good?
What gifts have I buried because of fear, comparison, or perfectionism?
What small responsibility have I been avoiding?
About growth
Am I more teachable today than I was a year ago?
When was the last time I changed my mind because I encountered truth?
Am I intentionally creating space for prayer, Scripture, reflection, and service?
The Great Reversal
The kingdom of God often works differently than we expect. The poor in spirit inherit the kingdom. The last become first. Those who lose their lives find them. And those who faithfully use what God has entrusted to them discover their capacity continually expanding. Jesus isn't describing a cruel system. He's revealing that the human heart is never static. It is always becoming more receptive—or more resistant. More generous—or more guarded. More attentive—or more distracted. More alive to God—or less aware of His presence.
So what do we do now?
Perhaps Jesus' words are less a warning about losing possessions and more an invitation to cultivate our inner life. Every day we receive something—time, attention, opportunities, relationships, abilities, moments of conviction, glimpses of truth.
The question is not, "How much have I been given?" The deeper question is:
"What am I doing with what I have already received?"
Because according to Jesus, growth begins not with getting more—but with faithfully responding to what is already in our hands.
