OCCUPY TILL I COME by James White

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 31, 1856

"OCCUPY TILL I COME."

By James White

WHEN I first heard the Millerites spoken of it was a common thing with their opposers to say that they did not fulfill the requirement of the Saviour, for they spent all their property, (some of them,) and neglected their farms, their stores, and their shops, to proclaim the Lord's coming, saying, that if he was so soon coming these temporalities would not be needed. True, this was but living out their faith, for if they really believed it, they could not consistently do otherwise than to make it the all-absorbing theme. "But then," said the opposer, "they should not have neglected their business, nor sold their property, for the Lord said, Occupy till I come." At the time I thought this a very good argument, for all know that but little proof is required to confirm prejudice in any mind. But what astonishes me most at this time is to hear those professing the Present Truth quote the same text in the same manner, doubtless not realizing that it is a great perversion of scripture. We would not have men slothful; let them be "diligent in business;" but let the interests of the cause of God's truth be first in all things. If we have any faith in God's word, why not show it by our works?

But what does the scripture in question mean? The talents given to his servants cannot mean worldly goods, for the Saviour did not confer these upon his disciples. On the contrary we are told that the poor of this world, rich in faith, are heirs of the kingdom. What they received was increased, by some in a tenfold proportion, hence, if to fulfill this scripture, and occupy till Jesus comes, means to occupy farms, &c., they are not only to be occupied but multiplied, so that when he comes the faithful servant can say, "Lord, thy farm hath gained ten farms!" And the man of ten farms shall receive a blessing tenfold greater than he that has but one farm! Where then will "the poor of this world," appear?

When the young man asked the Saviour what he should do to inherit eternal life, he did not tell him to carefully keep his "great possessions," but he said: "Sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me." Matt. xix.

Can any one seriously expect to hear the Saviour say, "Well done, good and faithful servant," because he has been careful to increase his worldly possessions? Would not the words of James be more appropriate to his case: "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasures together for the last days." It must be even so; for Jesus said, "A rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven." If the Saviour had said that a poor man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven, does any one think that the poor would act in view of it as the rich now do? Some to my knowledge are neglecting known and acknowledged duties because they conflict with their temporal interests. "What is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" Read the direction in Luke xii, 31-36.

Dear reader, do allow that the Saviour means what he says, and remember, that your faith is of no consequence any farther than you live it out. J. H. W.