“For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.” (Matthew 13:12)

In God’s infinite way of Grace and Mercy, we as finite human beings cannot understand how and why someone would give to him who already has, and take away from him who has not.

We would be quick to call this unfair. Some would even go as far as to call God an unjust God. We question God’s motives all the time – I know I have. I have certainly wondered before why Jesus Himself said:

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”  (Matthew 5:44)

Proverbs 4:7 says:

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”

For example: a baby, when he has gotten comfortable with a dirty diaper, can easily become uncomfortable with a parent who strips him of his diaper, and plunges him into semi-cold water, and scrubs him to be made clean. He cannot understand the purpose of cleansing. He has accepted being dirty as being comfortable; and the process of getting cleaned up is uncomfortable.

Since Israel was and is God’s chosen people, why would He say in Ezekiel 11:19:

“And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:”

There are plenty more examples in the Bible that express the principle of replacement, or substitution. Such as the very familiar Scripture of 2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

To get a good understanding of what Jesus said in our text verse, see if you agree with me about what Paul says in Philippians 3:7-9; where he talks about his own self-righteousness being removed and replaced by that which is of the faith of Christ; which is of God by faith: Christ-Righteousness.

It is impossible for us to fully understand the Grace and the Mercy of God in our lives. The Bible says of the Father which is in heaven, “…he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). Whether we believe or not, everyone alive today is alive because of the Grace and the Mercy of God.

Psalms 14:1 says, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God…”

A person will be without the Grace and the Mercy of God eternally, by rejecting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, and by not receiving His Righteousness by Faith.

Romans 1:28 says, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind…” The Grace and the Mercy of God even keeps us in our right minds

“What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.” (Romans 9:14)

“For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” (Romans 9:15)

Romans 12:3 speaks of a measure of faith that God has dealt to every man.

God said in Genesis, “…My spirit shall not always strive with man…” (Genesis 6:3). The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in this world is hard to be explained and understood. But without it in a person’s life, I believe that it is impossible to be saved. On the other hand, by submitting to it and agreeing with God; one can be saved, and thus experience the abundant life.

The Bible speaks of faith as something that we can possess, even though it is not a physical thing. Luke 18:8b asks the question:

“Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

And Hebrews 11:6 says,

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

When the time comes, will you have what it takes?

Romans 10:17 tells us, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

In our text verse, I believe Jesus is speaking to His Disciples of mysteries as hidden truths that are only un-hidden, or revealed, to a chosen few. Evidently there is truth that is not hidden from those who are not of the chosen few.

Jesus is pointing out the importance of making proper use of what a person has now that will make a difference in what he or she receives in the future.

Take advantage with what you do have.