{"id":667,"date":"2023-08-11T03:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-11T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reflectivebiblestudy.com\/gospeladventure\/?p=667&2023"},"modified":"2023-08-08T18:00:12","modified_gmt":"2023-08-09T00:00:12","slug":"listening-wisely-mark-4-21-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reflectivebiblestudy.com\/gospeladventure\/listening-wisely-mark-4-21-25\/","title":{"rendered":"Listening Wisely: Mark 4:21-25"},"content":{"rendered":"
Focus Passage: Mark 4:21-25 (NASB)<\/div>

21<\/sup>\u00a0And He was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought<\/em> to be put on the lampstand?<\/span> 22<\/sup>\u00a0For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything<\/em> been secret, but that it would come to light.<\/span> 23<\/sup>\u00a0If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”<\/span> 24<\/sup>\u00a0And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides.<\/span> 25<\/sup>\u00a0For whoever has, to him more<\/em> shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”<\/span><\/p>

Read Mark 4:21-25<\/a> in context and\/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!<\/p><\/div><\/div>\r\n

Jesus had many profound teachings, and much of what He tells us sounds \u201cunfair\u201d. While we usually use the word unfair to describe a situation when other people have been given the upper hand, when we look at what Jesus taught, and even at the reason why He came, Jesus\u2019 life was anything but fair. Jesus\u2019 life was unfair because it lifts all of us up while He stepped down.<\/p>\r\n

But in some of His teaching, Jesus shares a truth that can seem incredibly unfair, but it is a truth we have control over. Jesus tells the disciples and the crowd, \u201cTake care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.<\/strong>\u201d (v. 24-25)<\/p>\r\n

While too often, we focus on the last idea about getting more, and the contrast that we might let other things be taken away, we apply these words to mean our money, our wealth, and our possessions. But the context for these words in both Luke\u2019s version of this teaching and Mark\u2019s is that Jesus is warning us to be careful what we listen to. Luke records Jesus saying, \u201cSo take care how you listen\u2026<\/strong>\u201d (Luke 8:18a)<\/p>\r\n

How we listen, and what we listen to has a huge effect on our lives. What we let into our minds will eventually change us. This can be positive, or it can be negative. If we let good things in, we will be helped, but letting bad things in will hurt us \u2013 maybe not immediately, but eventually.<\/p>\r\n

There is a trend in culture that all ideas should be given equal hearing \u2013 that is, except for ideas based on a Biblical foundation. However, this flies in direct opposition to Jesus\u2019 words in this passage. Jesus warns us to be careful what we listen to. If we measure all ideas as being equal, then eventually chaos will result. Chaos might not happen immediately, but the more time ideas are given equal weight, the more they can erode at laws, which by definition are checks against someone\u2019s ideas.<\/p>\r\n

Contrasting two people can give us a clear example of this: One feels the speed limit on a rural road should be 75mph, while the other believes that it should only be 35mph. If the actual speed limit is closer to 75, the one believing the lower speed limit will make themselves a road hazard for those who follow the posted speed limits. But if the posted speed limit is closer to 35, then the one wishing to drive faster puts their life and the lives of those traveling on this road in danger.<\/p>\r\n

Both people have an opinion \u2013 an idea of what things should be \u2013 but the law in place (the speed limit) filters their ideas as valid or not valid.<\/p>\r\n

The Bible has given us instructions and rules to live by. While these may fly in the face of modern culture\u2019s opinions, our culture has not actually settled on where it should settle. If culture continually pushes laws away, then what has been built over the past centuries will be \u201ctaken away\u201d.<\/p>\r\n

This passage speaks directly to our self-control. The more discretion we have, and the more self-control we exercise, the more we will be given. The less self-control and discretion we have, the easier it will be to lose the little we have. Life is a series of habits, choices, and decisions. Jesus challenges us to live wisely on the foundation He gives us \u2013 and it starts with being careful \u201cwhat you listen to\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus<\/strong> \u201cReflective Bible Study\u201d package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here<\/a> and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!<\/em><\/p>

Subscribe<\/a> to this blog and never miss an insight.<\/em><\/p><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Jesus had many profound teachings, and much of what He tells us sounds \u201cunfair\u201d. While we usually use the word unfair to describe a situation when other people have been given the upper hand, when we look at what Jesus taught, and even at the reason why He came, Jesus\u2019 life was anything but fair. 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