Jesus told a parable of how a certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and he was to return later. (Luke 19:12). Jesus told of how this nobleman called his ten servants and gave them ten pounds (one for each), and said unto them, “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13).
Now if you look at that instruction in the BBE (Bible In Basic English) version Jesus said “Do business with this till I come”. Another version (ASV-American Standard version) says “Trade ye till I come”.
In other words the nobleman was instructing his servants to make good use of the money, by investing it in some business. Of course we read in the same passage of scripture how that the nobleman returned from his journey and called his servants to see what they had gained with the pounds. One servant (very fruitful) gained ten pounds from the one. Another servant gained five pounds, and while yet another didn’t do anything with his pound but hid it until his master came.
What I want to focus our attention to is the phrase ‘Occupy Till I Come …’ Other English bible versions show us that the instruction was for the servants to trade, do business, or invest the pounds and to be fruitful. Remember also one very important fact when you study the parables of Jesus. In most of his parables Jesus likened the parables to the kingdom of God. In other words most of the time he was speaking of himself, of the Father, and of how the kingdom of God operates.
In this particular parable we know, by revelation, that the nobleman was implying the Christ (for Christ is coming and He is the one coming). Christ has given his servants (disciples) an instruction to ‘Occupy Till I Come…’
What does it mean to you as a Christian or disciple of Jesus? One could say, ‘But I didn’t receive a pound from the Lord, so I cannot invest anything’.
Now if you look at that instruction in the BBE (Bible In Basic English) version Jesus said “Do business with this till I come”. Another version (ASV-American Standard version) says “Trade ye till I come”.
In other words the nobleman was instructing his servants to make good use of the money, by investing it in some business. Of course we read in the same passage of scripture how that the nobleman returned from his journey and called his servants to see what they had gained with the pounds. One servant (very fruitful) gained ten pounds from the one. Another servant gained five pounds, and while yet another didn’t do anything with his pound but hid it until his master came.
What I want to focus our attention to is the phrase ‘Occupy Till I Come …’ Other English bible versions show us that the instruction was for the servants to trade, do business, or invest the pounds and to be fruitful. Remember also one very important fact when you study the parables of Jesus. In most of his parables Jesus likened the parables to the kingdom of God. In other words most of the time he was speaking of himself, of the Father, and of how the kingdom of God operates.
In this particular parable we know, by revelation, that the nobleman was implying the Christ (for Christ is coming and He is the one coming). Christ has given his servants (disciples) an instruction to ‘Occupy Till I Come…’
What does it mean to you as a Christian or disciple of Jesus? One could say, ‘But I didn’t receive a pound from the Lord, so I cannot invest anything’.
But hold on!
What about your job? What about the business that God blessed you with and you own? What about the various free blessings that God has given you?
Surely God has given us all something, whether money, position of authority, resources, and so forth. All these can be used to make investment into the kingdom.
Something we need to also understand is how to invest our money, resources, authority or whatever in the kingdom. God’s number one business is in winning souls into the kingdom. God’s number one business is in saving men and getting them into his kingdom through the preaching of the gospel. Now you may not be the one preaching, or going from house to house, but your money can do it. Your car can do it, your position of authority can do it. You can give offerings, you can partner with a ministry, and you can donate your possessions for use by the kingdom.
As a disciple of Jesus Christ what have you done as an investment into the kingdom of God, and into God’s number one business?
If you read in that parable further (Luke 19:17-26) you will discover the different rewards that each servant got for how they traded with what the master gave them. Be wise!
Surely God has given us all something, whether money, position of authority, resources, and so forth. All these can be used to make investment into the kingdom.
Something we need to also understand is how to invest our money, resources, authority or whatever in the kingdom. God’s number one business is in winning souls into the kingdom. God’s number one business is in saving men and getting them into his kingdom through the preaching of the gospel. Now you may not be the one preaching, or going from house to house, but your money can do it. Your car can do it, your position of authority can do it. You can give offerings, you can partner with a ministry, and you can donate your possessions for use by the kingdom.
As a disciple of Jesus Christ what have you done as an investment into the kingdom of God, and into God’s number one business?
If you read in that parable further (Luke 19:17-26) you will discover the different rewards that each servant got for how they traded with what the master gave them. Be wise!
