RCCG Sunday School Student Manual 5 July 2026 – Lesson 44
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TOPIC: Occupy Till I Come (1) (RCCG Sunday School Student Manual 5 July 2026)
MEMORY VERSE: And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. – Luke 15:13 (KJV)
BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 19:11–27 (KJV) (RCCG Sunday School Student Manual 5 July 2026)
11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
INTRODUCTION: The phrase “Occupy till I come” is a biblical reference found specifically in Luke 19:13 (KJV). Other versions of the Bible read: “Do business until I come” (NIV); “Put this money to work until I come back” (NLT); “Invest this for me until I come” (MESSAGE). In this context, “occupy” means “do business.” This phrase is part of a parable told by Jesus, commonly known as the Parable of the Minas or the Parable of the Pounds. Literally, the Pounds, given to the servants in this parable, are “money.”
LESSON OUTLINE
- WHAT “THE POUND” REPRESENTS
- WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH “THE POUND”
1. WHAT “THE POUND” REPRESENTS
The Pound in this context represents whatever God gives to a man to make him fulfil His purpose in life. It is the investment of God that is sufficient enough to make a child of God productive. This includes your breath/life (2 Corinthians 5:15); salvation (Acts 9:13–15); good health (Mark 5:18–20); resources (1 Chronicles 22:5; Luke 10:33–35); influence (Esther 4:12–17); anointing/grace (1 Corinthians 15:10); knowledge of God (Ephesians 3:2–5); and spiritual gifts/talents (1 Corinthians 12:4–7).
2. WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH “THE POUND”
There are three options available for the servants in the parable of the pound (Luke 19:11–27) and the same applies to every child of God: to spend “the pound”; to keep “the pound”; to invest “the pound.” We shall consider the first option in this outline – to spend “the pound.” Some people think everything God gives to them is only for their self-satisfaction and comfort (Luke 12:16–21). For instance:
- Samson spent his “pound” on strange women (Judges 14:1–3; 16:1). He wasted his anointing and lost his uncommon power on the laps of Delilah (Judges 16:18–21). He killed several enemies without acknowledging God (Judges 15:16).
- Solomon enjoyed God’s help (1 Kings 2:1–2), but he was full of himself. He took God’s grace for granted and spent his “pound” on strange women who turned his heart away from God (1 Kings 11:1–4). The Bible makes it clear that the breakthrough, promotion, deliverance, etc. we enjoy is to do good works and propagate the Kingdom of God and not for self-gratification (Mark 15:43–46; Genesis 41:39–41, 51; Mark 5:18–20).
- Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:29–33): Such people pride themselves in their secular achievements and begin to talk about “my hard-earned money,” “my intellect,” “my plan” etc. They do not acknowledge the “God-factor” in their achievements (Acts 12:21–23).
- The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:12–13): Some people waste their God-given potential on things that have no eternal value. Some even use their “pound” to entertain the world and not for the propagation of the gospel.
CONCLUSION: What are you doing with “the pound” given to you by God? Make up your mind not to be wasteful like the characters above.
QUESTIONS
- State four things that the pound may represent.
- Identify three Bible characters who spent their “pound” and what they spent it on.
FURTHER READINGS:
Sunday: Luke 19:13 (KJV)
And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
MON: Luke 10:33-35 (KJV)
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
Tuesday: Acts 12:21-23 (KJV)
21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. 22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. 23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
Wednesday: 1 Kings 11:1-4 (KJV)
1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites: 2 Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.
Thursday: Luke 15:12-13 (KJV)
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
Friday: Mark 5:1-20 (KJV)
And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. 6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, 7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. 8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. 9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. 10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. 12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. 13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. 14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. 15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. 16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. 17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. 18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. 19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
Saturday: 1 Corinthians 15:10 (KJV)
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
ASSIGNMENT: Identify five (5) meanings of “Occupy till I come” according to this lesson (2×5=10 Marks).
RCCG Sunday School HYMN
- O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Thy friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?
