Jesus didn’t just ask us to preserve what we’ve been given. He expects us to multiply it.
In a recent episode of The John Bevere Podcast, John and his son Arden unpacked one of the most striking truths buried in plain sight within Jesus’ teachings: that true faithfulness is defined not by stability, but by multiplication. “Jesus defines faithful as multiplication,” Bevere declared. “God requires many things, but one thing He lists because it’s so important—that we’re faithful.”
The conversation centered on the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, where three servants are entrusted with varying portions of their master’s wealth. One multiplies his five talents into ten. Another doubles two into four. But the third, who simply preserved his one talent, is condemned. “Larry maintains his gift. He doesn’t multiply it. He maintains it. He doesn’t lose it. He just maintains it. But his Lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant.’”
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That verse struck a chord with Bevere. “Jesus, You just used the word wicked and servant in the same sentence.”
The underlying message is direct: maintaining what God has given is not enough. “When you hear the word faithful, you should hear in your brain… multiplication,” John said. “Faithfulness is not just being steady or loyal. Faithfulness is taking what God has entrusted to you and producing more.”
And the consequences of ignoring this call? “Take the talent from Larry and give it to Ashley who has 10 talents,” Jesus says in the parable. Bevere explained it plainly: “Larry starts out with one, ends up with zero. Ashley starts out with five and ends up with 11.”
Why? Because God doesn’t honor stagnation—He honors increase.
Bevere also confronted the internal struggles many believers face: fear and intimidation. “The number one reason why people don’t multiply? Fear and intimidation,” he said. “Paul said to Timothy twice, ‘The gift of God is in you, but it’s inoperative… because you have a spirit of intimidation.’”
But this isn’t a call to guilt—it’s a call to activation. Arden chimed in, “The giftings of God that you have, the enemy will send intimidation. That could be the fear of man. That could be the fear of failure. That could be the fear of stepping out… But on the other side of them is an opportunity for you to greater experience the giftings that God has placed on your life.”
One of the most inspiring moments came when John shared the testimony of a man named Mike, who gave a $200 offering—every penny he had—and began to receive supernatural business ideas. “Mike said, ‘God said, I want you to give $200.’ He said, ‘That’s all I have.’ And the Holy Spirit whispered, ‘That’s all I’m asking for.’”
The fruit of that obedience was astonishing. “Then it went to $50,000. Then to $100,000. Then to $150,000 every single month above his tithe,” John said. “He lives on anywhere from 10 to 15% of his income… He gives 85 to 90% to the kingdom of God.”
And Mike’s story isn’t the exception—it’s the example. “To everyone who has [multiplied], more will be given, and he or she will have an abundance,” Bevere quoted. “But from him who does not multiply but maintains, even what he or she has will be taken away.”
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The message is clear and urgent: “Out of that encounter with God came this entire message that not only are we called, not only are we gifted, but we are called to multiply.”
In a world full of comparison and hesitation, this message offers bold encouragement. You may feel like Larry—with just one talent—but God still expects you to multiply it. You may not have the platform, the income, or the visibility others have. But as Bevere emphasized, “What He’s looking for is not the end result of what you have, but what did you do with what you were given?”
So ask God for the idea. Take that first step of obedience. And trust that faithfulness, in God’s eyes, means fruitfulness.
Because when you multiply your gift, you’re not just being productive—you’re being faithful.
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
