Author: Gary Witcher

Take Care How We Listen

	"Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed;" Jesus observes in Luke 8:16-18, "but he puts it on a lampstand, in order that those who come in may see the light.  For nothing is hidden that shall not become evident, nor {anything} secret that shall not be known and come to light.  Therefore take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him shall {more} be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him."
	These words of Jesus are just as critical today as they were nearly 2000 years ago.  In an age of religious ignorance and indifference, we should indeed take care how we listen.
	"Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed;" the Master instructs in the first of these verses, "but he puts it on a lampstand, in order that those who come in may see the light."
	We need to take care how we listen to these words of Jesus when he tells us that the placement of our light is very important.
	"You are the light of the world," Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:14.  "A city set on a hill cannot be hidden."
	Our light is to be placed on a hill.  It is to be placed on a hill so that the world can see it.  If the world is living in darkness, can the lights pass the blame on to someone else?
	"Nor do {men} light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure," Jesus continues in Matthew 5:15, "but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house."
	Our light is to be placed on a lampstand so that all who are in the room may see.  If those standing next to us are living in darkness, can the lights pass the blame on to someone else?
	We need to take care how we listen to these words of Jesus when he tells us that the placement of our light is very important.  Our light must be placed on a hill so that the world can see it.  Our light must be placed on a lampstand so that all in the room can benefit from its illumination.
	Jesus goes on to explain the effect of the light.
	"For nothing is hidden that shall not become evident," He notes in Luke 8:17, "nor {anything} secret that shall not be known and come to light."
	We need to take care how we listen to these words of Jesus when he describes the effect of our light.  He says that our light should cause others to see and glorify God.
	"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven," Jesus instructs in Matthew 5:16.
	If those around us cannot see God, can the lights pass the blame on to someone else?  If those around us are not glorifying God, can the lights pass the blame on to someone else?
	The Lord also explains that the light makes all things become visible.
	"For nothing is hidden that shall not become evident," He comments in our text, "nor {anything} secret that shall not be known and come to light."
	We need to take care how we listen to the words of Jesus when he tells us that the placement of our light is very important.  Our light must be placed on a hill so that the world can see it.  Our light must be placed on a lampstand so that all in the room can benefit from its illumination.
	We need to take care how we listen to the words of Jesus when he describes the effect of our light.  He says that our light should cause others to see and glorify God.  Our light should make all things visible.

	We need to take care how we listen to the words of Jesus when he tells us that the placement of our light is very important.  Our light must be placed on a hill so that the world can see it.  Our light must be placed on a lampstand so that all in the room can benefit from its illumination.
	We need to take care how we listen to the words of Jesus when he describes the effect of our light.  He says that our light should cause others to see and glorify God.  Our light should make all things visible.
	The third thing that Jesus stresses in our text from Luke 8:16-18 is that, in order for our light to be placed correctly and for it to have the right effect, we must be a light in the first place and that light must be the right kind.  That's the obvious implication of the Master's command to take care how we listen.  Notice the importance of careful listening in the parable of the sower and the seed.
	"And those beside the road are those who have heard;" Jesus conveys in Luke 8:12-15, "then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they may not believe and be saved.  And those on the rocky {soil are} those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no {firm} root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.  And the {seed} which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of {this} life, and bring no fruit to maturity.  And the {seed} in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance."
	Notice the four kinds of soils.  Some seed falls beside the road.  This represents people who hear, but they are not careful how they listen.  The devil easily snatches the Word from their hearts.
	Some seed falls on rocky soil.  This represents people who hear.  They hear with joy.  But they are not careful how they listen.  Since they have no firm root, they quickly fall away in time of temptation.
	Some seed falls among the thorns.  This represents people who hear.  But they are not careful how they listen.  The worries and riches and pleasures of this life choke them before they bring fruit to maturity.
	Some seed falls on good soil.  This represents people who hear.  These people, however, are careful how they listen.  They receive the Word in an honest and good heart.  They bear fruit with perseverance.
	We must take care how we listen.  We must take care how we listen because those who do will have more given to them, while those who do not will lose what they have.
	"And while they were listening to these things," Luke 19:11-26 records, "He went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.  He said therefore, 'A certain nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and {then} return.  And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas, and said to them, "Do business {with this} until I come {back.}" But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, "We do not want this man to reign over us."  And it came about that when he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him in order that he might know what business they had done.  And the first appeared, saying, "Master, your mina has made ten minas more."  And he said to him, "Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, be in authority over ten cities."  And the second came, saying, "Your mina, master, has made five minas."  And he said to him also, "And you are to be over five cities."  And another came, saying, "Master, behold your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow."  He said to him, "By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow?  Then why did you not put the money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?"  And he said to the bystanders, "Take the mina away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas."  And they said to him, "Master, he has ten minas {already.}"  I tell you, that to everyone who has shall {more} be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.'"
	We need to take care how we listen to the words of Jesus when he tells us that the placement of our light is very important.  Our light must be placed on a hill so that the world can see it.  Our light must be placed on a lampstand so that all in the room can benefit from its illumination.
	We need to take care how we listen to the words of Jesus when he describes the effect of our light.  He says that our light should cause others to see and glorify God.  Our light should make all things visible.
	We must take care how we listen.  We must take care how we listen because those who do will have more given to them, while those who do not will lose what they have.
	"Blessed," Revelation 1:3 promises, "is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near." 
	Lets take care how we read, hear and heed the truth so that we may be set free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."