The Prodigal Son(s)
Jesus told a parable that we refer to as, “The Prodigal Son.” In it, He talks about two sons of the same father. It turns out that they both had issues – just different ones.
Inheritance
11 And He said, “A man had two sons.
12 “The younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me. So he divided his wealth between them.
13 “And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.
This was a pretty amazing request. The younger son didn’t want to wait until his father died. He wanted everything right now. He probably figured he should live it up now, while he was still young enough to enjoy it. Whatever his reasoning, we know what his plan was.
Trouble
14 “Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.
15 “So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 “And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.
The younger son was having a great time at first. He had a lot of “friends” who loved helping him spend his money. Spending money like that always runs out, though. He soon found himself without money and without friends.
Greener?
20 The poor is hated even by his neighbor, But those who love the rich are many.
The younger son went to work for someone around there, feeding pigs. Keep in mind that this was a Jewish man, who was forbidden to eat (or even touch) pigs, yet, here he was – feeding them. Not only was he feeding these unclean animals; he wanted to eat their food, but he wasn’t even allowed to.
He had come from his family’s farm, where his father loved him and he always had more than enough food. Now, he had thrown that all away, just because he believed the myth of the “greener grass.” You know — “The grass is always greener on the other side.” In my experience, it usually isn’t.
That can be hard to believe in this day of social media. It seems that everyone on the Internet is living life so much better than you are. Most of that is probably not true. Yet, we are still plagued by FOMO – Fear Of Missing Out.
Senses
Luke 15:17-19 (NASB)
17 “But when he came to his senses, he said, How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!
18 I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”
Up until this point, this young man was letting his pride get in the way of wisdom. He was finally ready to humble himself and go back to his father. This man had seen just how bad people can be. He didn’t realize what he had back at home until he had lost it.
He knew his father was a good man. The younger son also knew that he had destroyed his relationship with his father, taking it for granted. Even though this young man knew he didn’t deserve to be called a son, he just wanted to be a servant to his father. That would be enough for him.
He went back home.
Homecoming
20 “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
21 “And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.
When we make mistakes and we sin, God wants us to confess our sins. Confession is simply admitting to God that His way is right. It helps us to understand more clearly, so that we won’t make the same mistakes again.
The son did not get the reaction he was expecting, though. He was just hoping that his father would hire him to work on his farm, nothing more. Instead, it seems that his father had probably been looking and waiting for his son every day. When he finally came home, he was overjoyed.
Celebration
22 “But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;
23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;
24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found. And they began to celebrate.’”
This was more than the son ever dreamed or dared to hope for. He knew his father was a good man, but he didn’t understand this. The son could not understand this kind of forgiveness, because forgiveness was not in his own heart. He couldn’t even forgive himself; he knew he didn’t deserve it.
Some people think that they have done too much for God to forgive. That’s because they don’t understand just how great God’s love and forgiveness are.
So, the father told his servants to prepare the best food for a feast and celebration, because in the father’s heart, “this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.” Now, that was the younger son. He found his way back home, back to his father’s love.
What we might not expect, though, was his brother’s reaction.
Older Son
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 “And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be.
27 “And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’
At this point, we might think that the older brother would also be excited, because his younger brother is back home.
Anger
28 “But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.
29 “But he answered and said to his father, Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;
30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.
Instead of being happy for his brother, the older brother was angry. It seems that even though he stayed with his father, working the whole time, he also suffered from “greener grass syndrome.” The older brother was upset that it seemed like his brother was getting a free pass – something he never got. He felt that all these years, he never received the reward that he thought he deserved.
Now, his worthless younger brother simply walks through the door, and he gets treated like a king. In the older brother’s mind, this just wasn’t fair.
The Father’s Love
Luke 15:31-32 (NASB)
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”
The older brother didn’t realize what he had all those years. He was focusing on the work that he had been doing, instead of the love and security that he had in his father’s house. The father told his older son, “all that is mine is yours.” This is what God, our heavenly Father is telling us today.
All that He has is ours.
• Greater love than we could ever fully understand.
• More security than we can ever find in this world.
• Forgiveness for all the wrongs that we do every day.
• A friend Who will never abandon us.
It doesn’t matter which “son” you are today; God is always calling us to come closer. If you are the younger son who ran from God until he came to his senses, God is saying, “Come home, and I will forgive everything.”
If you are the older son who thought he was “missing out”, God is saying, “Look at all you have, here in My house. Let’s enjoy it together.”
God just wants us to live in His love and forgiveness, fellowshipping with Him forever.
Forget about this world. The grass is always greener in God’s house.
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