The Matthew Principle

The Matthew Principle, sometimes known as the Matthew Effect is a concept used in education and economics to describe the principles governing growth or decline. It’s based on the words of Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel 13:12. The principle is used reliably in the world of economics because it is true. And it is true because it’s grounded in the word of God, who created economics (Haggai 2:8).

For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away (Matthew 13:12)

The principle is pessimistic in so far as it teaches us that, as you begin to fail (or fall), you can expect to fail and fall more rapidly as things progress. But it’s optimistic too because it teaches us that success also tends to compound. Those who are lazy tend to get poorer, and lazier, those who are working hard and making money, tend to make more money. Those who think and study, tend to get smarter. Those who neglect their studies and stop thinking tend toward increasing dullness. Those who harden their heart over one thing, are more likely to harden their hearts over multiple things as the days and years progress.

In its original context, Jesus is talking about His teaching in parables and says that those on the road to redemption are also being given eyes to see and understand more and more of His teachings. But to those who persist in their blindness to the things of the kingdom, life is only going to get darker.

The principle is applicable far and wide. From the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. The reasonably healthy guy who used to sit at home eating two doughnuts a day and watching two hours of Netflix is likely to find himself becoming unhealthy as he ups the ante and starts eating ten doughnuts over six hours of binge television. Those who started out gambling 10% of their pay packet will likely find themselves spending 50% and wonder how such a thing ever happened.

Those who keep sinning ordinarily find themselves sinning more, and going deeper into the darkness of their particular sin over time. Those who are wasting away in sin tend to accelerate the decay in that direction.

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. (Hebrews 10:26-27)

Likewise, to the one who has, more will be given. The guy who confronts his allergies, or fears, with gradual exposure, tends toward better physical and mental health over time. Those who exercise for five minutes a day find that after a few weeks they can now exercise for ten minutes. The man who is seeking Christ finds that the light gets brighter and brighter. This, by the way, also has the effect of making his sin more and more repulsive to him.

This surprises many Christians. They think that after 10 years of following Christ that our sin diminishes. In one sense, it does, or at least, it should. The thing is, the sight of our sins (present and past) becomes worse to our eyes. This is good and as it should be. If God switched on every light in the house on day one and we all saw the mess it would probably kill us. And so we have what scripture calls, sanctification.

This sanctification is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit to open new rooms, switch on the light, and then provide the additional grace to confess and repent and seek the grace and holiness of God more diligently.

Back to the Matthew Principle.

Grace is a gift from God, as well as an aspect of His character. God forgives and also provides the means for us to forgive others and move further and further toward the life of Christ. Sometimes the gains appear small, but each step toward Christ is a step toward greater grace, greater courage, greater faith, greater love, and a stronger hope.

We are all heading somewhere and that somewhere is toward more of what we already have. Either more grace, love, hope and peace, or more sin, pain, darkness, and turmoil.

The Matthew Principle stops us in our tracks and invites us to look back and review the path we have been on. It’s a good clue, if we do it honestly, as to where we are heading.

The good news of the gospel is that God has made repentance available to them that ask and believe. To repent is to turn, and that is what we are called to do whenever we are confronted with one of our demons from the past—or temptations in the moment. We are being invited to turn away from darkness and head toward the light. To renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age (Titus 2:12).

The Matthew Principle is a non-negotiable in the world that God has made. Grace is man’s only deliverance and the promises of God our only assurance. You get more of what you invest in.

This is a good reason to invest in our own sanctification. To labour for the increase of godliness in our own lives and in the lives of those around us. It’s a good reason to confess and turn quickly when we find ourselves on the wrong road, rather than shrug our shoulders in despair, or live with the blind hope that, “She’ll be right, mate.”

God is good and blesses the good with even more good. He gives more light to those who come into the light.

What’s one thing you can do today to move further into the light? Further away from a bad habit, or further toward a healthy, sanctified and God-honouring mind? Just one thing. Perhaps a small thing. But a small thing that the Matthew Principle (which is just an odd way of saying, the grace and kindness of God) will reward with greater hope, holiness and loveliness down the line?

Find it, and by God’s grace and a humble heart, put it into action.