Occupy Till I Come

Luke records a parable Jesus told as they were nearing Jerusalem in chapter 19:1-27. A trip was made by a nobleman to claim the title that would make him king of the surrounding territory. The disciple’s assumption was that the Kingdom of God was to about to begin, so Jesus was preparing them for what was to come.

He took on the persona of a nobleman who needed to make a lengthy trip to receive the right to be king. The disciples grasped the symbolism due to the passing of Herod the Great. To become rulers over parts of their father’s territory, each of Herod the Great’s sons – Herod Antipas, Herod Philip, and Herod Archelaus – had to journey to Rome to gain approval. Archelaus would have become king over Judea, however 50 Jewish men journeyed to Rome to express their opposition to his rule, as hinted at in the parable.

The parable depicts a nobleman entrusting 10 responsible servants with a sum equivalent to three months’ wages each.  Here is what has stood out to me today. Leaving them unchecked and unsupervised, he instructed them to “occupy until I return” (v 13, KJV). To us, that is a very broad term!! The ESV version renders the original word for “occupy” as “engage in business”, while NLT2 translates it as “invest”. Today, I believe this means I need to use the unique abilities Christ has given me until I face Him on Judgement Day. We should all be prepared for the inquiry, “What did you do with the blessings I bestowed upon you?”

Each stage of our life presents different opportunities to invest what He entrusted us to use. Adults are expected to be more productive than children. God’s expectations for retirees differ from those of younger, more robust individuals. My point is; depending on the variables given to each person at each point in their life, each will be held accountable when they stand before Christ.

I have been reading Connie’s (my deceased wife) prayer journals. They are humbling, breaking, and challenging. They are teaching me valuable lessons for which I am very grateful. During her most vibrant years, she performed remarkable acts of service, as remembered by those who knew her. Yet, her accomplishments were altered by the onset of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). She no longer could physically do all she had done earlier. Her journal documented her increasing struggles with self-worth. The inability to perform like she used to was a constant burden on her mental and emotional state. Her persistent disappointments and fears couldn’t stop her from fighting back. The Spirit of God was shaping her for the grander divine tasks He had planned for her in Heaven, even amidst the intensely challenging battles she faced. With almost no physical means to gain self-worth, she endured 3 years and 3 months solely relying on scripture and its promises to battle her mind and emotions. Picture yourself enduring those hourly battles for that duration. I now realize it’s in those moments of inactivity and vulnerability that the fiercest battles are fought.

How might “occupy till I come” apply to whatever stage of life you find yourself? Have you been concentrating on using your gifts to honor God, or to advance your own comfort or interests? Can you confidently say you have readied yourself to receive praise from Him? Hearing the words well done is much better than well said or good intentions. Your past is fixed, but you have the ability to influence your future. Might you sense you need to strategize any changes in your life?

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