Colossians 3:18-4:18

Occupy...Till He Comes

OK, so the phrase “occupy till He comes” isn’t in this passage. Currently there is a movement in this country that started as Occupy Wall Street. It is basically a social protest against the unconscionable greed of the financial industry in our country. During a time of genuine financial distress for the vast majority there is an elite who were not only responsible for this distress but who were themselves bailed out by public funds and who continue to squeeze the poor and the increasingly smaller middle class in pursuit of an ever greater slice of the pie. 

Obviously, this is a political issue which is quite complex and has proponents on all sides. I can’t say with certainty who is right and who is wrong, but I can say what a believer is supposed to do because the Bible makes it clear.

If a believer is working for someone he or she should be aware that they are really working for the Lord. This doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be fairly compensated (of course they should be) but if you are just working for worldly gain that’s all you will get. If you are working for the Lord you will receive your worldly gain but more importantly you will bring honor to Christ and receive a far greater reward for your work than will show on your pay stub. Note that I am not talking about evangelizing on the job. If you talk about Jesus a lot but do a poor job you will bring dishonor rather than honor to Christ. Do your job well, because you are working for the Lord, and the opportunities to witness will come.

If you are one who has others working for you resist the temptation to think that it is all about the bottom line. What a miserable small evil way of thinking. Of course the world glorifies this was of thinking but the world’s way is death. Understand that you have a master and it isn’t your accountant, or some rating agency, or even stock holders. Your master is the Lord. Treat those you employ fairly. Their families are as important as yours. The Lord will not look kindly on your “fortune” if it is gained by taking bread off of the plates of another’s children.

Occupy Wall Street has branched out to other areas and the term “occupy” is the branding that links them all together. I don’t know if it will do any good though I wish them well. For me, I think if we will occupy with these simply rules the day will come when He will appear and those who have worked and managed and owned with Him in mind will be very glad they did.