“As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’” — Luke 19:11-13
KJV Says “occupy” until I come.
The Greek word, “pragmateuomai” is where we get the idea of being pragmatic. Where we do business to make gain or what Jesus was spiritually talking about – “bearing much fruit”
This is seen in John 15:2 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. “
You’ll also find this in John 15:7 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”
And again in John 15:8 “When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” Not if, but when.
The Apostle Paul writes about this work ethic/pragmatism in Colossians 3:23 NIV “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,”
And in 1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
The expectation of every disciple of Jesus is that they engage, occupy, or produce. For one, because God has given us so much, but also because Jesus has specifically given us gifts with an expectation that they will be used to continue to produce fruit until he returns.
As a leader in the community of Jesus, the greatest return, the greatest yield of engagement is that we produce one of the most extraordinary increases – another disciple of Jesus.
Who are your five up, five down? Who is discipling you and who are you discipling?
Every single one of us has to work in an area that I call minutia. It is the necessary, sometimes expedient, even critical. But minutia does not often yield eternal results. Filling or filing a government form maybe 100% necessary, but my DOJ or HR compliance certificate will absolutely not show up in the pile worthy or works when I meet Jesus at the judgement (Bema seat of Christ). Calling and waiting on a contracted plumber to come and snake a drain is not exactly kingdom worthy. But poop happens and we gotta do what we do to clean it up.
What are the eternal things that show up in heaven? People! Investing, discipling, loving, praying and encouraging them – tending to the weak and invisible, the hurting and needy. These are the eternal gifts we bring before Jesus at the final reckoning of our righteous deeds.
Jesus told the parable because the crowds kept hearing about the Kingdom of God and began asking when it would arrive. Luke tells us, Jesus told them the story “to correct the impression that the Kingdom of God would begin right away.”
We have used this verse to form an opinion based on the fact that we should be busy about the Kingdom of God work until Jesus returns, which is fine.
But Jesus was still talking about all of us, as his followers, continuing to produce good fruit and to do so in abundance. Bear good fruit. Produce the BEST fruit – making disciples of Jesus!