Gospel

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OCCUPY TILL I COME!

And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. Luke 19:11-13;

The parable of the talents holds a lot of truths which we must pay attention to as God’s children so that our lives will not be wasted as we journey through life. The kingdom of God is indeed a business venture, the Almighty God is an investor! As a typical investor, God is looking for profits and increase wherever he puts His resources. God as a shrewd businessman is not wasteful with His resources; every investment of God in our lives must be justified!


As indicated in the parable of the pounds, every believer is a partaker of God’s resources. There is no one that God has not endowed with grace in one area or the other. The reason God distributed spiritual gifts and grace to His children is to make profit and further His course on the earth. Just like the noble man distributed all his resources to his servants before his departure to a far country, God has made all of us caretakers of His resources in one capacity or the other. Whatever we have, be it gifts, time, talents, knowledge, wisdom, abilities, riches, wealth or capabilities, are actually God’s own resources placed in our care to make profit for Him and His kingdom. We must live with this consciousness at all times and realize that all resources at our disposal are not meant to satisfy our selfish ends or desires but to bring glory to our maker. Those who live for self at the expense of God will be ashamed at the coming of the master.


The reason the master delivered his resources to his servant was simple, they were instructed to occupy till he comes. In other word, they were expected to engage in productive activities till his arrival. That was the only way to increase the investment of their master. It was not a matter of option; the servants were mandated to engage in productive ventures since they received their master’s resources for that purpose. It is sad that so many people have received the grace and resources of God in vain. They come to church, sit idle and watch others work for God. They are satisfied being receivers at all times and do not think of how they can be actively involved in the business of the kingdom. Some people think God will accept their excuses for not getting involved in the work of the kingdom, they are deceived! If the master did not entertain any excuse from the unprofitable servant, it is not likely that Jesus will accept your excuses no matter how genuine they seem to be to you!


Another very important revelation is that, the nobleman’s journey to the far country was not forever, he was meant to return after a period which was not specified. According to the scriptures, Jesus Christ has gone to prepare a place for us with a firm promise that He would return shortly. It is unfortunate however, that many believers are living their lives as though Jesus will never return again; many Christians are beginning to build empires here on earth when the word of God says we have no continuing city here. How many believers are really expecting the return of the master? This is the age that messages of the coming of the Lord Jesus are dying off from our pulpits; everybody’s attention seems to be on prosperity, breakthroughs and the likes.


It is also evident that at the return of the master, certain things will happen. One of the things that will happen at the return of the Lord is that every servant will be required to give full account of his life and how he handled the resources placed in his care. Every one of us will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ to give account of our lives and what we did with God’s resources. You will be required to give detailed account of how you spent your life time. The unprofitable servants will be ashamed at the coming of the Lord, but those who gave all their lives into the kingdom to bring Him glory and honour, will rejoice at His coming. May we not be ashamed at His coming. Amen.


Dearly beloved, how are you handling the resources of God placed in your care? Have you been idle, slothful and unfruitful in the business of the kingdom? There is no better time to re-evaluate your life than now. A new year is beginning and God is rolling out before you again opportunities to make your life count in His program. You cannot afford to sit on the fence and watch your life waste away. Remember you don’t have forever to live, you have only one life, opportunities are not forever! Rise up today, plunge your life into the business of the master, heed the master’s call today ‘OCCUPY TILL I COME’!

Ezekiel Olukolajo
(c) 2011
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