DO BUSINESS TILL I COME

“So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ (Luke 19:13 NKJV)

 

The expectation of the early disciples of Jesus who accepted and regarded Him as their Messiah was that He would immediately exert His supernatural power and authority to deliver the Jewish nation from the dominion of the Romans and overthrow the Romans kingdom.

 

They also expected that Jesus would set up His own physical Kingdom in Jerusalem, thereby fulfilling the prophecy about the Messiah establishing His physical Kingdom on earth with His headquarters in Jerusalem.

 

However, on His way to Jerusalem the Lord Jesus corrected this wrong notion about the Messiah establishing His physical Kingdom on earth at His first coming by giving a parable about a certain nobleman who went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.

 

But before this nobleman left, he called his ten servants and delivered to them ten pounds, and said to them, “Do business till I come.”

 

However, his citizens hated him and sent a message after him, saying, “We will not have this man to reign over us.”

 

When this nobleman returned having received the kingdom he commanded His servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him that he might know what they had gained by trading.

 

Sadly, one of the servants did nothing with the money he had received, but kept it away in a napkin. Having rebuked this lazy servant, the nobleman ordered that what he had should be taken away from him and be given to the faithful servant.

 

Afterwards, the nobleman commanded, saying, “But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.” (Luke 19:27 NKJV).

 

What are the lessons in this parable?

What are the spiritual implications of this parable to us as believers today?

 

They are worth finding out!

 

First, the nobleman in the parable who went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return to reward his faithful servants and to also punish all those who hated him and rejected his rule represents the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Although the Lord Jesus had received all authority in heaven and on earth at His first coming, yet He will not fully exert this authority to punish all those who hate Him and reject His rule, or to forcefully put them into subjection under His feet until the end of the dispensation of the grace when He returns to establish His physical Kingdom on earth (Matt. 28:18, Eph. 1:10, Heb. 2:8-9).

 

Second, the citizens of the nobleman who hated him and rejected his rule represent the Jewish nation as a whole and the unsaved world in general.

 

The Jewish nation as a whole vehemently hated and rejected the Lord Jesus at His first coming as their Messiah and King.

 

The Scripture testifies that the Jewish nation as a whole rejected Jesus as their Messiah.

 

John 1:11-12 – NKJV

 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

 

During the trial of Jesus, although Pilate said he found no fault in Him, yet the Jews wanted Him crucified.

 

John 19:4-6 – NKJV

 4 Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.”

 5 Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!
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 6 Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”

 

At the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, He will fully exert all His authority as the Lord to forcefully bring into subjection under His feet all His enemies and to punish with everlasting punishment all those who hated and rejected Him as their Lord and Saviour.

 

The end of the haters and rejecters of Jesus Christ will be very terrible (Luke 19:27, Matt. 25:46).

Third, when the nobleman returned in the parable, he began the judgement at his house, with his servants to whom he had entrusted his resources.

He commanded all his servants to be brought before him, so that they might give account of their works to him. He rewarded the faithful servants, but he punished the unfaithful and lazy servant (Luke 19:15-26).

Similarly, at the return of the Lord Jesus, the judgement will begin at the household of God, with the believers to whom God had entrusted His resources or gifts.

1 Peter 4:17-18 – NKJV

 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

 18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

The purpose of the believers appearing before the judgement seat of Christ is not to determine their eternal destination, but to determine their rewards for their works or labours towards the growth and expansion of God’s Kingdom on earth.

The faithful believers will be fully rewarded, but the unfaithful and slothful believers will suffer a great loss.

Apostle Paul explains this truth.

 

1 Corinthians 3:13-15 – NKJV

 13 Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

 

2 Corinthians 5:10 – NKJV

 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

 

Beloved, while waiting for the second return of the Lord Jesus Christ to subjugate or quash every rebellion against His authority and establish His everlasting physical Kingdom on earth, the Lord expects you to occupy or do business till He comes.

 

Wherever the Lord has placed or positioned you, it is the Lord’s expectation that you will continue His ministry, proclaiming and demonstrating the Lordship or preeminence of Jesus Christ (John 17:18, 20:21).

 

As a believer, you are not supposed to be waiting passively for the return of the Lord Jesus, but to be labouring actively in God’s kingdom, bearing much fruit from the grace you have received from the Lord Jesus.

 

Apostle Paul admonishes, “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” (2 Cor. 6:1 NKJV).

 

When you fail to labour diligently or actively towards the growth and expansion of God’s kingdom on earth, you have simply received the grace of God in vain.

 

Paul testifies, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” (1 Cor. 15:10 NKJV).

 

Like Paul, you also should always labour to bear much fruit to the Lord Jesus from His grace bestowed upon you. You must not be slothful in the Lord’s business.

 

Matthew 5:14-16 – NKJV

 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

 15 “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

 16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

 

John 15:16 – NKJV

 16 “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

 

Paul also admonishes you to “Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord.” (Rom. 12:11 RSV).

 

Beloved, the Lord has strategically placed you in your school, office, workplace or marketplace as the light so that you may give light to all those in darkness around you.

 

Therefore, you must not fail to walk and shine as a child of light, showing forth the true nature and character of the Lord Jesus Christ and demonstrating the preeminence of Christ over all things.

 

Paul amply admonishes us to shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.

 

Philippians 2:14-15 – NKJV

 14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,

 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.

 

Ephesians 5:8-11 – NKJV

 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),

 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

 

Friend, arise today to occupy, trade or do business till Christ returns with all the gifts and resources He has blessed you with for the growth and expansion of His spiritual Kingdom on earth.

 

Romans 12:6-8 – NKJV

 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;

 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;

 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

 

 

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the unique gifts You have given me. My Dear Holy Spirit, help and teach me to discover, develop and deploy these gifts for the growth and expansion of God’s Kingdom on earth, in Jesus’ name. Amen.