START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION
(KJV) Matthew 13:12
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.
Cultivating a Receptive Heart: Understanding the Kingdom Principle of Matthew 13:12
At first glance, Matthew 13:12 can sound incredibly jarring, almost unfair to our human ears:
“For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
In a world plagued by economic inequality, we might read this and mistakenly assume Jesus is endorsing a “rich get richer” philosophy. But Jesus wasn’t giving a lecture on financial economics. He was revealing a profound, foundational law of the Kingdom of Heaven: the principle of spiritual receptivity and stewardship.
When we understand what Jesus is truly offering, this verse transforms from a stern warning into a beautiful invitation to experience life in its absolute fullness.
The Context: Why Parables?
To understand this verse, we have to look at why Jesus said it. His disciples had just asked Him why He was suddenly speaking to the crowds in parables.
Jesus explained that the secrets of the Kingdom were being given to the disciples, but not to the crowds. Why? Because the religious leaders and many in the crowds had already hardened their hearts. They had seen the miracles, heard the truth, and willfully rejected it.
The “one who has” is the person who welcomes the truth of God with an open, eager, and humble heart. The “one who has not” is the person who closes their mind, letting their heart become hard like path-soil.
Use What You Have, and Watch it Multiply
This principle shows up everywhere in the Christian walk. God has entrusted every single one of us with a unique measure of spiritual wisdom, gifts, talents, and opportunities. He is watching to see how we steward them.
- Faith: When you act on a small, mustard-seed size of faith, God expands your capacity to trust Him through deeper trials.
- Wisdom: When you obey the spiritual insights God gives you through His Word, He trusts you with deeper revelations and clarity.
- Service: When you use your natural and spiritual talents to bless others, God multiplies your opportunities and increases your impact.
Spiritual growth is never stagnant. If we are actively cultivating our relationship with Christ, we are moving forward into abundance. But if we neglect what we’ve been given—if we let our Bibles gather dust and keep our faith hidden away—even the spiritual momentum we once had will begin to wither.
Choosing Abundance Today
The good news is that the Kingdom of God operates on an economy of grace, not human effort. God does not expect you to generate your own righteousness or gifts; He simply asks you to surrender and receive what He has already provided.
If you feel like you “have not” much to give today, simply offer your willingness. Ask God to soften the soil of your heart, and watch how He richly furnishes your life with His peace, guidance, and spiritual fruit.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the beautiful gift of Your Word and the grace of the gospel. Lord, we recognize that every good and perfect thing we possess comes directly from Your hand. We ask right now that You would search our hearts. Forgive us for the times we have been complacent, or when we have let our hearts grow hardened to Your voice.
We pray for a deeply receptive and humble spirit today. Break up any hard ground within us, and grant us the wisdom and courage to act faithfully on the truth You have already revealed to us. Multiply our faith, our love, and our capacity to serve Your Kingdom. May we live so closely aligned with Your Spirit that we walk daily in the spiritual abundance and fruitfulness You promised.
In Jesus’ mighty name we pray, Amen.
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Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter
- LET BOTH GROW TOGETHER / MATTHEW 13:30
- AN EVIL SPIRIT / MATTHEW 12:43
- JONAH / MATTHEW 12:40
- BY YOUR WORDS / MATTHEW 12:37
- THE DAY OF JUDGMENT /MATTHEW 12:36
- BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE SPIRIT / MATTHEW 12:31
- TIES UP THE STRONG MAN / MATTHEW 12:29
- THE KINGDOM OF GOD / MATTHEW 12:28
- SABBATH / MATTHEW 12:1
- COME TO ME / MATTHEW 11:28
- GLUTTON AND A DRUNKARD / MATTHEW 11:19
- FORCEFUL MEN LAY HOLD OF IT / MATTHEW 11:12
- GREATER THAN HE / MATTHEW 11:11
- JOHN / MATTHEW 11:7
- PROPHET RIGHTEOUS MAN / MATTHEW 10:41
- TAKE HIS CROSS / Matthew 10:38
- I DID NOT COME TO BRING PEACE / MATTHEW 10:34
- ACKNOWLEDGES ME BEFORE MEN / MATTHEW 10:32
- YOU ARE WORTH MORE / MATTHEW 10:31
- HELL / MATTHEW 10:28
- DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEM / MATTHEW 10:26
- CITIES OF ISRAEL / MATTHEW 10:23
- GIVEN WHAT TO SAY / MATTHEW 10:19-20
- PREACH THE KINGDOM / MATTHEW 10:7
- AUTHORITY TO DRIVE OUT EVIL SPIRITS / MATTHEW 10:1
- ASK THE LORD TO SEND / MATTHEW 9:38
- THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL / MATTHEW 9:37
- NEW WINE INTO OLD WINESKINS / NEW WINE PRESERVED / MATTHEW 9:17
- THEN THEY WILL FAST / MATTHEW 9:15
- EAT WITH ‘SINNERS’ / MATTHEW 9:11
- THEY PLEADED WITH HIM TO LEAVE / MATTHEW 8:34
- DEMON-POSSESSED MEN /MATTHEW 8:28
- LET THE DEAD BURY THEIR OWN DEAD / MATTHEW 8:22
- HEALED ALL THE SICK / MATTHEW 8:16-17
- GREAT FAITH / MATTHEW 8:10
- DON’T TELL ANYONE / MATTHEW 8:4
- JESUS TOUCHED THE MAN / MATTHEW 8:3
- I NEVER KNEW YOU / MATTHEW 7:23
- MANY WILL SAY LORD, LORD / MATTHEW 7:22
- DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER / MATTHEW 7:21
- BY THEIR FRUIT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THEM / MATTHEW 7:16
- WATCH OUT FOR FALSE PROPHETS / MATTHEW 7:15
- SMALL IS THE GATE … AND ONLY A FEW FIND IT / MATTHEW 7:14
- YOUR FATHER … GIVE GOOD GIFTS / MATTHEW 7:11
- ASK … SEEK … KNOCK / MATTHEW 7:7-8
- DO NOT JUDGE / MATTHEW 7:1
- SEEK … KINGDOM … RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 6:33
- IF THAT IS HOW GOD CLOTHES / MATTHEW 6:30
- DO NOT WORRY / MATTHEW 6:25
- MONEY / MATTHEW 6:24
- EYE IS THE LAMP OF THE BODY / MATTHEW 6:22
- WHEN YOU FAST / MATTHEW 6:16
- IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE / MATTHEW 6:15
- IF YOU FORGIVE / MATTHEW 6:14
- DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE / MATTHEW 6:13
- FORGIVE AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN / MATTHEW 6:12
- DAILY BREAD / MATTHEW 6:11
- YOUR KINGDOM COME – YOUR WILL BE DONE / MATTHEW 6:10
- THIS THEN IS HOW YOU SHOULD PRAY / MATTHEW 6:9
- PRAY IN SECRET / MATTHEW 6:6
- ‘ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS’ BEFORE MEN / MATTHEW 6:1
- DO NOT RESIST AN EVIL PERSON / MATTHEW 5:39
- EXCEPT FOR MARITAL UNFAITHFULNESS / MATTHEW 5:32
- HELL / MATTHEW 5:29
- LOOKS LUSTFULLY / MATTHEW 5:28
- ANGRY … RACA … FOOL / MATTHEW 5:22
- UNLESS YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 5:20
- GREAT IN THE KINGDOM / MATTHEW 5:19
- THE LAW TO FULFILL / MATTHEW 5:17
- LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD DEEDS / MATTHEW 5:14-16
- SALT OF THE EARTH / MATTHEW 5:13
- PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 5:10
- THE PEACEMAKERS / MATTHEW 5:9
- THE PURE IN HEART / MATTHEW 5:8
- THE MERCIFUL / MATTHEW 5:7
- HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 5:6
- THE MEEK / MATTHEW 5:5
- THOSE WHO MOURN / MATTHEW 5:4
- BLESSED POOR IN SPIRIT / MATTHEW 5:3
- SERMON ON THE MOUNT / MATTHEW 5-7
- THE KINGDOM AND HEALING / MATTHEW 4:23
- FISHERS OF MEN / MATTHEW 4:19
- SATAN / MATTHEW 4:10
- ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD / MATTHEW 4:8
- IT IS WRITTEN / MATTHEW 4:6-7
- FASTING FORTY DAYS / MATTHEW 4:2
- JESUS … TEMPTED / MATTHEW 4:1-11
- THE TRINITY IN EXAMPLE / MATTHEW 3:17
- SPIRIT … ON HIM / MATTHEW 3:16
- JESUS … BAPTIZED / MATTHEW 3:13
- WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / MATTHEW 3:11
- FRUIT IN KEEPING WITH REPENTANCE / MATTHEW 3:8
- PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES / MATTHEW 3:7
- KINGDOM OF HEAVEN – REPENT / MATTHEW 3:2
- WARNED IN A DREAM / MATTHEW 2:22-23
- KILL ALL THE BOYS / MATTHEW 2:16
- ESCAPE TO EGYPT / MATTHEW 2:13
- CHIEF PRIESTS AND TEACHERS OF THE LAW / MATTHEW 2:4
- HEROD – MAGI / MATTHEW 2:1-2
- NO UNION WITH HER UNTIL / MATTHEW 1:25
- VIRGIN … GIVE BIRTH TO A SON / MATTHEW 1:23
- JESUS / MATTHEW 1:21
- MARY … JESUS / MATTHEW 1:16
- CHRIST – SON OF DAVID /MATTHEW 1:1
- GENEALOGY OF JESUS CHRIST / MATTHEW 1:1-16
- CREWS N AWAY: ANCHORED IN GRACE
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Blessings, Margarita & Stace
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