Occupy Till I Come

(A devotional by my sister Ruth Lauridsen) 

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 til I come. But his citizens hated him,
saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that
when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these
servants to be called unto him, to whom  he had given the money, that he
might know how much every man has gained by trading. Then came the first,
saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well,
thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou
authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath
gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept
laid up in a napkin: For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou
takest up that thou layest not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. And
he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked
servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man: taking up that I laid not
down, and reaping that I did not sow; Wherefore then gavest not thou my money
into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own in usury? And
he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him
that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord he hath ten pounds.) For I
say unto you. That unto every one  which hath shall be given; and from
them that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. But those
mine enemies. Which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and
slay them before me. Luke 19:12-27

I was struck by the words this man said “Occupy til I come” (Occupy= to busy
oneself with….) I have been noticing in me a heart that is frustrated and
annoyed at life because it isn’t the exact way I want it. But looking at this
story gives me a different prospective. Just like this man, God has given each
of us “pounds”- jobs to do, and the challenge for me and for you is; what are
we going to do with these “pounds”? Are we going to look at them in disgust and
say “Lord, this isn’t what I wanted” or are we going to Occupy until God comes
again? Are we willing each day to serve God to the fullest with the jobs He has
given us to do?
It will be worth it one day when we hear God say “Well done, Thou good and
faithful servant” if we occupy til He comes!

Will You and I occupy until Jesus comes?

When Jesus comes to reward His servants,
Whether it be noon or night,
Faithful to Him will find us watching,
With our lamps all trimmed and bright?

O can we say we are ready, brother?
Ready for the soul’s bright home?
Say, will He find you and me still watching,
Waiting, waiting when the Lord shall come?

If, at the dawn of the early morning,
He shall call us one by one,
When to the Lord we restore our talents,
Will He answer thee “Well done”?

Have we been true to the trust He left us?
Do we seek to do our best?
If in our hearts there is naught condemns us,
We shall have a glorious rest.

Blessed are those whose the Lord finds watching,
In His glory they shall share;
If He shall come at the dawn or midnight,
Will He find us watching there?