Mark 4:21-25: a reflection

21He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it put on a stand? 22For there is nothing hidden except that it should be made known, neither was anything made secret but that it should come to light. 23If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you; and more will be given to you who hear. 25For whoever has, to him more will be given; and he who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away from him.”

After teaching in parables, Jesus gives a warning about how we listen: Take heed what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and more will be given. For to the one who has, more will be given; and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. How we receive and respond to what we hear from God is not a neutral matter; it determines whether we gain more or lose even what we had.

Notice the principle Jesus states: to the one who has, more will be given. This is not about material wealth, but about spiritual truth. The one who receives God's word, takes it to heart, and acts on it, is given more; his understanding and faith grow and increase. But the one who hears and does not respond, who lets the word lie unused, loses even what he had; the truth neglected slips away. Spiritual truth is not a static possession; it either grows through use or fades through neglect.

That is a searching word about how we handle what we hear from God. It is not enough to hear God's word; how we respond to it matters greatly. If we receive it, act on it, put it to use, it grows in us, and more is given. But if we merely hear and do not respond, even what we understood begins to fade. Take heed how you hear. Do not merely listen to God's word and leave it unused; receive it, take it to heart, act on it, so that it grows in you and more is given. The truth we act on increases; the truth we neglect is lost. Be a doer of the word you hear, so that your understanding and faith grow, rather than a mere hearer who slowly loses even what he had.

Lord Jesus, you warned me to take heed how I hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away; how I receive and respond to your word determines whether I gain more or lose even what I had. Give me a searching awareness of this. It is not enough to hear your word; how I respond to it matters greatly. If I receive it, act on it, put it to use, it grows in me, and more is given. But if I merely hear and do not respond, even what I understood begins to fade. Help me take heed how I hear. Keep me from merely listening to your word and leaving it unused; help me receive it, take it to heart, and act on it, so that it grows in me and more is given. The truth I act on increases; the truth I neglect is lost. Make me a doer of the word I hear, so that my understanding and faith grow, rather than a mere hearer who slowly loses even what he had.