I was in a pastors' prayer meeting recently that greatly moved all who were present. During that season of prayer a word came to my mind. That word was "occupy". It is the word Jesus used when giving instructions to His disciples as He was preparing them for His departure.
I heard a story long ago that I believe is an example of the Church today. As I recall, it begins with the owner of a large business here in the United States who was preparing to leave his headquarters in the U.S. to open a new branch in a country overseas. For several months he began training the staff at home to carry on while he was gone. He appointed individuals to be in charge of the various departments in order that the business would carry on as if he were there.
He was very successful in establishing his new branch. After being gone for nearly a year, he decided to return home to see how things were going. When he arrived he saw the grass out front had not been mowed and was waist high. He walked in the front door and found the carpet in the foyer very filthy. He observed the receptionist painting her fingernails while the phone was ringing. She did not answer the phone. He went from department to department and found similar things; people doing nothing, lounging around and basically idle.
The owner then called all the department heads together for a meeting of accountability. He asked why they were not functioning as instructed, not caring for the business. They were all shocked at his question and responded by telling him that they were, in fact, very faithful. They were proud of the fact that they showed up for work every single day. Each day, at work, they read his printed instructions. They even had group discussions about what he said, and what they each thought he meant by examining the wording of his instructions. They even used dictionaries to make sure they would have the exact meaning of each word he had written for them. Some said they thought so highly of him that they even memorized his instructions word for word. They had done everything….except carry out the instructions that he left for them. Does this, in any way, remind you of the Church today?
In the Gospel of Luke chapter 19, verses 12 through 26, the Lord uses a parable to teach us a lesson concerning what is expected of His servants. The story tells of a master who was away in a far country making preparations for His kingdom. There is one word in that parable that now looms large in its importance to the theme of this parable. The word is "Occupy."
The Greek word translated as occupy here is: "pragmateuomai" {prag-mat-yoo'-om-ahee}
1) To be occupied in anything
2) To carry on a business
3) To trade/carry on the business of a banker or a trader
4) To busy one’s self with
There is no doubt as to what the Lord expects from each of us while He is away preparing to receive His kingdom. We are to be gainfully occupied in His service. This word occupy gives us the directive to be busy about the Lord's work, using abilities He has given us.
Many times we confuse the definitions of occupy, (to be gainfully employed) with (occupy) simply taking up space. There is a great difference. Occupying space gives the impression of doing nothing but sitting idly by, waiting for the return of Jesus and His kingdom. There is a vast difference between the Lord’s instruction, and what we have come to think of as "occupying".
General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, when asked the secret of his amazing Christian life replied, "I told the Lord that He could have all that there is of William Booth."
We are familiar with Nehemiah who knew what it was to be fully occupied, consumed if you will, in the service of the Lord. While Nehemiah was in the service of the King of Persia word came to him of the deplorable condition of the nation of Judah especially the city of Jerusalem. The distressing news so broke Nehemiah's heart that he could not perform his duties as cupbearer for the King Artaxerxes. The Lord dealt with the heart of Nehemiah as well as the heart of king Artaxerxes. For Nehemiah, his burden was to rebuild the walls of the city of the Lord. For Artaxerxes it was to soften his heart towards his servant.
Nehemiah was so occupied with the task before him that nothing on earth was going to keep him from his mission of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.
1. Not the long hard journey from Persia to Judah.
2. Not the size of the job that lay before him.
3. Not the laziness of the people of Jerusalem.
4. Not the Naysayers within the walls.
5. Not the Accusers outside of the walls.
Another meaning that we might consider is what "Occupy" means to one in the military. It could mean taking land that is "occupied"” by the enemy. To defeat the enemy and take back land; to take or hold possession or control of.
As followers of Christ, we need to stand and face the enemy, Satan, and not back down or give up one inch of ground. We need to fight the good fight. It is a war, and territory is not the prize to be won, but the souls of man and a rotting society.
Ephesisans 6:12
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
1 Peter 5:8
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"
James 4:7-8
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."
Galatians 5:17
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."
1 Peter 2:11
"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;"
Our fight is also against the world:
1 John 5:4
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"
Another meaning of the word “occupy” might be to reside in, as an owner or tenant.
Colossians 3:16 - 17
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."
Sadly many Christians get caught up in arguing about things that don't really matter when it comes to the battle we are really called to. Rather than arguing, we are to be a unified and powerful witness to the truth of Jesus Christ. We are to shine the light of truth into every dark area of society.
A further thought concerning "“Occupy"” is to take up a place. This one seems the more accommodating of those who choose to simply get along on this path of Christianity without taking a stand and living life to its fullest. This definition excuses the responsibility of being gainfully employed and replaces it with the example given by the last of the servants in the parable in Matthew.
Rather than use what talents the Lord has given to His children we hide them as we await His returning. The response of Jesus, our Savior, to this wicked and slothful servant is very plain and direct.
Matthew 25:28-30
"Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Jesus' instructions are very plain concerning the wicked and slothful servant. Not only will the talents be lost, but also the servant will be cast out and never trusted again to handle the business of the Master.
There are a lot of Christians who are doing nothing while there is lots to do. Could it be true that few Christians today are occupying?
