For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
This verse is the closing principle of the Parable of the Talents, one of Jesus's most well-known stories. In the parable, a wealthy man going on a long journey entrusts three servants with different sums of money before he leaves. A "talent" was an enormous unit of currency — roughly equivalent to 20 years of a laborer's wages. Two servants invest what they're given and double it; the third buries his share in the ground out of fear of losing it. When the master returns, he rewards those who risked and multiplied what they were given, and takes away even the small amount from the one who hid his. This verse states the underlying principle: those who use what they've been entrusted with receive more; those who hoard it out of fear lose even what they have.
Lord, forgive me for the ways I've buried what you've given me — out of fear, out of insecurity, out of wanting to keep it safe. Give me courage to risk it, to use it, to spend it freely. Whatever you've placed in my hands, let me use it for you. Amen.
On the surface, this verse sounds like it was written by a hedge fund manager. The rich get richer; the poor get poorer. But Jesus wasn't describing Wall Street — he was describing something about how spiritual gifts, faith, and love actually work. The servant who buried his talent didn't steal from the master. He didn't blow it on reckless living. He played it safe. He was so afraid of losing what he had that he never risked anything with it. And that caution — reasonable, understandable, self-protective caution — was the very thing that cost him everything. Fear is the great hoarder. It whispers that your gifts aren't good enough to use, that your faith isn't strong enough to share, that your love might be rejected so you'd better not offer it. But Jesus is clear: gifts given but not used don't stay neutral — they atrophy. The faith you never exercise grows brittle. The love you protect instead of give becomes a thing you guard rather than a thing you live by. What has God put in your hands that you've been safeguarding instead of spending?
In the parable, the servant who hid his talent did so specifically out of fear of the master — what fears most commonly cause you to hold back the gifts, faith, or love you've been given?
Where in your life are you currently investing what God has given you, and where are you more likely burying it?
This principle — that unused gifts diminish — feels severe. Do you think it is fair? What does it reveal about how God views our responsibility toward what he entrusts to us?
How does holding back your gifts affect the people around you who might have been changed if you had risked giving more freely?
Name one specific gift, opportunity, or act of love you've been hesitating on — and what would one concrete step toward using it look like this week?
And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
Luke 16:9
And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
Luke 16:1
Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
Luke 8:18
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Luke 10:42
But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Luke 12:48
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
John 15:2
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
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Revelation 2:5
"For to everyone who has [and values his blessings and gifts from God, and has used them wisely], more will be given, and [he will be richly supplied so that] he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have [because he has ignored or disregarded his blessings and gifts from God], even what he does have will be taken away.
AMP
For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
ESV
'For to everyone who has, [more] shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
NASB
For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
NIV
‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.
NKJV
To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.
NLT