Stewardship

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Good morning, my dear friends. Today, the Lord is asking me to remind you that He won't be gone for a long time; He is coming home soon.

Maybe you've been playing around, thinking the Lord is on a long journey. You have turned his noble home into a den of thieves and whore-mongers, liars, cheats, idolaters, blasphemers, and drunks. All abominable acts are going on in there now, in your Master's absence.

You have soon forgotten you Master's charge to you before he left: "Occupy till I come."

What does it mean to occupy? It simply means, to keep busy; to get engage; to work; to labor; to manage; to take care of; to make profit, etc. And for us as Christians, it includes, working out our salvation in fear and trembling (cooperating with the Holy Spirit to making us Christ-like), evangelizing and winning souls to God's kingdom.

When God travels, it's not a time for you to take a break from His commands. It's not a case of a servant having less work to do because his master is away. But it's a time of increase labor. The type that would merit "thou good and faithful servant."

The parable (of the talents) of Jesus in Luke 19:12-27 reveals what happens when God travels.

The noble man in Luke 19:12, we are told, went into a certain far country. He went to receive for himself a kingdom. Not only that, but to return. This noble man was not gone to take a kingdom by means of force. He was not gone for buy a kingdom with his riches. He was gone to receive a kingdom.

For the Bible to say he was gone to receive a kingdom (I believe) meant that he was invited to come. The rightful king-makers of that kingdom had invited him. Jesus called him a noble man. It means he was qualified to rule the kingdom.

The day of his departure was here. Family and friends, his ten servants, and community members all came to bid him farewell.
But before he left, Luke 19:13 says, "And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come."

Now whiles he was gone, THREE things happened.

1. Concern Citizens Coalition - Opposition From Enemies

Verse 14 says, "But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us."

These enemies vowed to sabotage the process. They hated him. They didn't want him to rule over them. Why did they hate this man, when the Bible says he was a noble man? Because of their own selfish desires.

They formed the pressure group, 'Concern Citizens Coalition' to press home their demands: "We will not have this man to reign over us." They held Press Conferences, street march and demonstrations and probably won some sympathy from the International Community.

2. Occupying Servants

Verse 13 says, "And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come."

The faithful ones among his servants obeyed his charge: "Occupy till I come." They had faithfulness learned their master's trade or business whiles he was yet with them. They understood the strategies of success in their master's line of business. They proved they were ready to work under little or no supervision.

They loved their master and had a heart for his business. They worked hard whiles their master was away.

3. Unoccupying Servants

These group are amazing to watch. They have no understanding of their master's business. They don't understand his investment lines, strategies, patience and sacrifices. They care less about the input.

They are only concerned with the yields and royalties of their master. They judge his returns and profits, saying, "you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow."

They didn't love their master and had no heart for his business. They were idle whiles their master was away.

Today, the question is, which of the above things are you engaged in. Our Lord Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us; to take for Himself a Kingdom, and to return.

Many people are denying him, and campaigning against Jesus today. It has become their life's mission to discredit Him as the Messiah and Son of God. They have become 'Concern Citizens' seeking to deny Him a Kingdom God has prepared for Him.

Others, even Christians have ignored the Lord's command in Matthew 28:19 to spread the Gospel. They give all kinds of reasons why they are not evangelizing. They are not occupying.

Those that are busy occupying are people with a heart of love for the lost and perishing. They bring in the lost into the Kingdom of God. They carry the good news of salvation in Christ through grace. They understand that God is still in the reconciliation and salvation business. They make profit for God!

If Jesus returns today, this very minute, what will He find you doing? Will He find you...?:

A. an active Concern Citizens Coalition member
B. a faithful Occupying Servant
C. a lazy Unoccupying Servant

It wasn't long and the noble man, the new King, returned home.

The kingmakers gave him the kingdom, and a sceptre of authority to rule in righteousness and not hold back justice. Now it was time to address very critical issues of national concern. And three dramatic things would take place.

The noble man had his reward with him. He commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

1. Honour And Authority received

Then came the first, saying, "Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds." The second came, saying, "Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds." And he said unto them, "Well, thou good servants: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten and five cities respectively." What an honour! From slavery into government.

They were found faithful in very little things; faithful in obeying a very simple command: "Occupy till I come."

2. Dishonour And Shame

The unfaithful one(s) came, saying, "Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I (we) have kept laid up in a napkin: For I (we) feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow."

And king said to him, "Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant."

This servant lost his place, and even the little he had was taken from him. This was the price he had to pay for disregarding his master's command. It was rather too late to repent. Whiles his friends were becoming governors he was kicked out of servant-hood. He was demoted!

3. A Grant of Request

Verse 27 says, "But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me."

Now the Concern Citizen Coalition members were brought in before the king. He was a kind king; so he granted them their request. He didn't have to rule over them since they detested his rule. He had them all killed. Dead men are no subjects to any king.

Jesus remains us in Revelations 22:12, "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."

What reward are you looking out for? Remember, it's according to every man's work. Will you receive a Crown of life or be cast into the lake of fire? Dear friend, only you can make this choice: to accept Jesus and obey His Word; or to reject Him altogether. The time to decide is now!

I invite you to accept Jesus as Lord and saviour of your life today.

Pray this prayer and be saved.

Dear God, I know that my sin has separated me from you. Thank you that Jesus Christ died in my place. I ask Jesus to forgive my sin and to come into my life. Please begin to direct my life. Show me the way out of sin and into the light of your freedom and your love. Thank you for giving me eternal life. In Jesus’ name, Amen!


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