It seems like there is not a day when I get through my daily Bible reading plan without being struck from Jesus’ teaching in the Gospels. Recently one such passage in Matthew 13 caused me to stop and consider an important aspect of God’s blessing in our lives. “For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” (Matthew 13:12). This contrast touches on the advantage and disadvantage of compounding spiritual blessing. It reminds me of an illustration I frequently use regarding our spiritual development. Our spiritual inaction is like attempting to go up the down-moving escalator which only moves us farther away from where we need to be!
I believe there are several contrasts here. Primarily, Jesus is speaking of the opportunities of those who have accepted Christ as opposed to the Jews who have rejected Him. He gives this as the reason for teaching in parables to the masses. The New Testament reminds us of the blessings of God’s unmerited favor to us in Christ. We have been transformed, forgiven, justified, adopted, given direct access to God, and many other promises and blessings along with eternal life!
I also see a practical application in Jesus’ words. There is the opportunity to experience the compounding blessing that is ours in Christ. One commentator points out: “When anyone uses the spiritual truth he has, that truth grows. More is added to it. By contrast, if he does not use it, he finds that it vanishes away little by little.” (Leon Morris, Pillar NT Commentary). John speaks of this compounding blessing in our life in his writings; “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” (John 1:16). The blessing of God’s grace in our lives is unlimited. The phrase seems to communicate the continual process of the new grace that replaces old grace in our lives. It is our blessing to realize God’s grace in our lives is the byproduct of our growing relationship with Him. I love how the Apostle Peter concludes his second epistle, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18).
Let me encourage you to invest in the spiritual disciplines of the faith like reading the Bible, spending time in prayer and memorizing Bible verses as a means to grow in your understanding and obedience to our Savior. Our commitment to lean into Jesus through the practice of our faith results in a greater realization of the compounding spiritual blessings in our lives through God’s grace!
-Pastor Joe Parkinson