Luke 19:13 (KJV) – And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
Luke 19:13 (NASB) – And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’
Occupy (pragmateuomai) – occupy, busy oneself, to trade, minster, work.
Occupy – To keep oneself busy or distracted (by doing something), to reside or have one’s place of business in.
Jesus said to occupy until He comes. What does it mean to occupy? It means to busy oneself in a trade or work, to reside or have a place of business.
Does it mean to not get involved in the world, to separate ourselves from the world around us as if they are dirty and will contaminate us? This world is the world that Jesus loved so much that He came to save them. It isn’t time for us to escape but to get involved in doing what He called us to do.
Jeremiah 29:5-7 – Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters–that you may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.
This is an example of occupying. Get involved. Get rooted in. Don’t wait to be “raptured” out to such an extent that you don’t get involved in life here. There us MUCH work left for us to do.
God created the world and what He created He said is good. It is what came in with the curse that we are not to be involved with, mostly how mankind began to think and act.
We are in this world to shine as lights. We are to be involved in the world. We are to infiltrate the world with the love of God, with the light of truth. We are to be different because we bear the fruit of the spirit not going about with a self righteous sense of “us and them”.
Worldliness isn’t being involved in living and working in the world. Wordiness is thinking like the world – and sadly most Christians think and act just like the world and think they are godly.
Galatians 5:18-23 – But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
This is the difference. Jesus said you will know them by their fruit. What is in your life – immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery (drugs), enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing or love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control?
We are not to walk according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience. We are to walk according to the kingdom of God in this present world. This will cause us to stand out and shine – because we are so different and refreshing as we offer the water of life to a thirsty, dying world.
Philippians 2:14-16 – Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
What makes you shine as a light in this world? STOP COMPLAINING AND DISPUTING.
Many Christians see the things happening in the world and are ready to escape and go to heaven. This is a very selfish and unscriptural way to think. There is a whole world around us in darkness. We need not to escape but to take our light into the world around us.
There could be more time here on earth than you think. Every generation has believed Jesus would come in their lifetime. Some were crazy about it, set dates and stopped life to wait for Him to come. Look up the “Great Disappointment” of the mid 1800’s for an example. Because of this many left the church altogether, and many current cults like Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons came out of this time.
As we are coming out of this time of staying at home into the “new reality” don’t look to escape the world. There is much left to do. Look for ways to get involved. Infiltrate the darkness with light. Maybe start a new business to “do business until I come”. Maybe get involved with loving and helping in your city or neighborhood. But don’t just sit and wait for Jesus to come.
Very good Teaching on the definition and explanation of “occupying” until He comes.
I was meditating on it this afternoon and also thought of the Jewish people when they were in captivity in Jeremiah and you referenced it as well.
Being found faithful with what He’s given to us, talents, times and treasures is also what I think of with the word occupy. Thank you.