Jesus said, "Whoever has something in hand will be given more, and whoever has nothing will be deprived of even the little they have." (41 Thomas)

What is the something? Jesus is almost always discussing spiritual matters. Perhaps it is faith or hope or love. It might be poverty or mourning or mercy.

Whatever spiritual "thing" we have, it will be the source of abundance. We will receive more. In the canonical gospels it is implied more than we deserve.

But why would others be deprived of what little they have? The answer may be related to having something "in hand."

In the Hebrew scriptures to have something in hand - yad - is to be able to use it, apply it, fully experience it... not just to hold it.

Spiritual things can be superficial, ephemeral, even silly. If spiritual things are merely decoration or self-serving superstition they have no substance and quickly dissipate.

But when spiritual principles are put to work, when we build something with them, when we plant them in the soil of daily life, they begin to multiply.

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands - O prosper the work of our hands! (Psalm 90:17)

The canonical parallels are Mark 4:21-25, Matthew 13:10-13, and Luke 19:11-27. Above is stained glass showing the symbols of St. Thomas: a carpenter's square, that he used as an architect and builder and a spear and arrows with which he was martyred.