In Luke chapter 19, Jesus spoke:
11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.
12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.
13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business (Occupy) till I come.’
14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’
15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’
17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’
18 And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’
19 Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’
20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief.
21 For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’
22 And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow.
23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’
24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’
25 (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’)
26 ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
27 But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ ”
The word occupy in verse 13 means: to be occupied in anything; to carry on a business; to carry on the business of a banker or a trader. In the above passage, it is clear we are to be productive with the gifts FATHER has bestowed in us and produce tangible fruit on behalf of HIS Kingdom.
“Occupy” denotes productive action with a focus on producing results very specific to FATHER’S directives found in HIS Word. Some will fully embrace their gifts and callings thus they will produce a ten-fold return of what they were given. This pleases Our Lord Jesus Christ and He will declare “Well done, good servant! Because you proved yourself faithful and trustworthy in a very little thing, you shall now have authority over ten cities [in my kingdom]”.
One who is somewhat productive is still rewarded. There are those who will be less productive but still embraced their gifts and callings. They too will be rewarded because they at least responded to FATHER’S Word with some level of action.
The third servant is one who did not know Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Agape Love for us. This servant focused only on the Laws other than the most important commandments of Love thus he lived in fear. He was so focused on what not to do, he ended up doing nothing. This is one issue with those who focus solely on prophetic words concerning world events. There is a tendency to do nothing because the expected world event will change everything anyway so, what is the point!
We need to focus on Jesus’ command to occupy till He returns, no matter what day, month, or year. Let us not be afraid but know that FATHER’S Love for each of us placed us here at this time with specific gifts and callings to conduct business on behalf of the Kingdom. As we are led by HIS SPIRIT, we will accomplish what is expected of us and will be rewarded accordingly. Remember, faith without works is dead, so occupy!