TO EVERYONE WHO HAS, MORE WILL BE GIVEN
Author: Sakkie Parsons
Someone wrote to me and asked:
“The verse in the Bible that say those who have will receive and those who don’t have, will not receive – Can you perhaps give me more clarity on this verse?”
Here is then how I understand this question: but first read the verse which I will use to explain my views:
LUK 19:26 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
We must see this verse from the preceding parable of Jesus. You can read this story there from LUK 19:12.
In short: A noble/prestige man went on a journey to receive his Kingship.
He entrusted his slaves each with a gold coin and when he returned, he called them to account for what they have done with their coin.
The one slave has earned ten coins profit.
The next salve made five coins profit.
The third slave the coin was entrusted to laid it away and returned it back to the king.
The king then rewarded the first two generously about what they did but he was very unhappy with the one who did nothing with his coin and did not reward him and took away from him that which he had.
This is how I understand this parable:
I believe our Lord gave each of His children talents (golden coins) to participate and to use these talents in His Kingdom.
One can for example preach, sing and teach.
One can only sing and preach.
One can only sing and so I could continue, but we all can do something with our talents we received or so to speak, with our spiritual coins.
I have come upon people who are such introverts that it seems at first sight that they do not contribute a great deal in the congregation. Then you talk to them and by their kindness and loving attitude, they are the most beautiful advertisement of discipleship of Christ Jesus.
As I understand the Word, all people will one day come before our Lord:
ROM 14:11 for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."
Paul, through the Holy Spirit, explains it even more beautiful in another part of the Word as he wrote:
PHI 2:9-11
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
I believe on that day, those people that did not receive and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour – in other words they threw back into His face His offer of love and salvation on Golgotha – will be condemned and their sentence will be an everlasting life in hell.
JOHN 3:18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
We as Christians will certainly also be present – not to be condemned but to be judged.
Apart from what you have just read in: JOH 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned…
My hero Paul wrote under the anointing of the Holy Spirit:
ROM 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Therefore, what is the purpose of our appearance before Jesus on His great white throne?
It is then right here where the example of the parable of the coins, so to speak, starts to operate.
We are not to be condemned but we will assured be judged by our lovingly but righteous Lord.
There will probably be someone that disagrees but as I understand the Word, we will assuredly not receive the same awards in Heaven one day.
If you have put in a great effort in God’s Kingdom with your talents/gifts (golden coins) here on this earth, your will certainly receive a greater reward as the one who did little or even nothing with his/her talent (golden coin).
My hero Paul describes it as follows:
1COR 3:10-15
10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it.
Let each one take care how he builds upon it.
11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw–
13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
Just as the slave with the one golden coin has failed the test, so there are many Christians who by the way they did not use their talents / gifts / coins, will fail the test.
One thing we can know for certain: You and I, as God’s children, will appear before Jesus’ Throne. As I have said – not to be condemned but to be judged. (evaluate, rate)
REV 20:11-12
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
Did you see?
REV 20:12 speaks of two books and in my opinion it is the second book that is relevant in this writing.
REV 20:12 … Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
You can say that in that book is your and my absolute final and perfect curriculum vita (CV) of all our work on earth.
From the person who has received many talents / gifts, to the person who received very little.
According to what is written in that book, you and I will be judged.(assess)
So, if I am but again quote my hero Paul for the last time in this regard:
1COR 3:14-15
14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
Greetings,
Sakkie