Luke 8:17-18

Luke 8:17-18 (ESV)

[17] For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. [18] Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.

“Take care how you hear.” When Jesus says, “to the one who has, more will be given,” he is not talking about the one who has material goods. The statements follows this, “Take care how you hear.” He had just told the parable of the sower, the seed and the soil. Earlier he said that the one who hears and does his word is like one who builds on a solid foundation. He is talking here not about one who has stuff, but the one who hears, believes, and acts on what he hears. When we receive what God is saying to us, we are given more insight and understanding. When we are convinced that we have full understanding, and so fail to listen to him, even what we think we know is eventually lost.

I’m convinced that is what is happening in liberal churches. A long time ago they moved away from hearing. The result has been for them to move further and further from God’s truth. But it is not only liberal churches. In our own bent toward legalism we can fall into the opposite ditch. The problem is a ditch is a ditch, and we’re meant to walk on the road. When we think we’ve got it all together and stop listening carefully to the Word and the Spirit we are vulnerable. It’s a dangerous place to be. “Take care how you hear.”