Prodigal Son or Self Righteous Son, which one are you? - Luke 15:11-24
Jesus had told the story of a wealthy man who had two sons. The younger son took his inheritance, left his home, family, faith, and culture so he could travel to other countries and do whatever he wished. He ended up wasting his inheritance, being hungry and working with pigs. The older son stayed and did everything his father asked. He was the obedient son who listened and showed respect for his father, family, faith, and cultural traditions. He worked in the family business and everything that his father owned was his after the younger brother had taken his share of the inheritance.
When the younger brother came to his senses, returned home, asked for his father’s forgiveness and a servant’s job, he did not expect a loving welcome. He knew he didn’t deserve anything good and was hoping that he could be one of the servants. He didn’t know the depth of his father’s love for him. His father never stopped loving him as a son and was always waiting for him. He loved him so much that he put the best robe on him, gave him a ring for his finger, and sandals for his feet. He called for a great party with the best-fatted calf, music, and dancing.
Meanwhile, the older son is returning from the fields and hears music and dancing. He asks what is going on and is quickly told that his younger brother has returned and his father is throwing him a welcoming party. The older brother does not share the same emotion as his father. In fact, he becomes angry and refuses to go inside where the party is going on. The father comes out and asks him to go into the party. The older son is angry and tells his father that he has worked all these years for him, been obedient, and his father has never even once given him even a young goat for a party for him and his friends to celebrate. His brother, on the other hand, leaves the family, wastes all his money with prostitutes and partying, comes home and he is celebrated with the best-fatted calf. How unfair!
The father’s perspective was quite different. He tells his son that he is always with him and everything he has is his. However, he lost a son when the younger one left. He could have been dead for all he knew. He didn’t care that the younger son squandered his money, he was grateful to have him back. He cared more for his son than his past behavior or the fortune he wasted. His son didn’t have to earn his love, it was always there.
The older obedient brother had everything and could have killed the fatted calf himself and thrown a party with his friends anytime. His father had already given him everything. Instead, he was angry and resentful at his father, judgmental and jealous of his brother’s return being celebrated. Do you ever feel that you have been so good and obedient to God but he hasn’t answered your prayers or blessed you the way you would like? Then, someone who has been living in sin, returns to God, and all of a sudden they get blessed the way you would like to be blessed?
The point Jesus is making is that our Father God loves us and has already given us everything (promises in the Word) for a blessed and happy life. We need to use our authority in Christ to take action by believing His Word and celebrate with thanksgiving for His goodness. But when a child of God leaves and comes back, or a sinner finds Jesus as savior for the first time, all of heaven celebrates. God is always looking to add into His family and He wants us to have compassion on the lost and celebrate when they are found. (John 3:16; Luke 19:10)
Personal Development Tip of the Week:
Are you dealing with a difficult situation right now? In any situation you are faced with you have to remember there are things that you can control and things that you cannot.
We can’t always control the situations that happen to us but what we can always control is how we respond to them.
We often respond to difficult situations with anger, resentment, disgust, etc. You have to remember that any difficult situation you are dealing with has within it the seed of opportunity to grow and learn from.
Ask yourself today, what can I learn from this situation? What is a possible solution I can come up with that will serve me? Remember the quality of your life is determined by the quality of the questions you ask yourself every day.
Lastly, pray about the situation with God and ask God for wisdom through this time. He is always working for your greater good and greater favor. The moment you can realize that in any difficult event is the moment your life will change.
Prayer for the week:
Dear Heavenly Father, I am praying over this individual's week. I’m praying for anyone going through a difficult situation lord and for you to help them through this time. Isaiah 41:10 says, so do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I pray lord that this individual can find strength in you lord through this time and that you can bring peace to their heart. Bless their week lord, protect them from the top of their head to the bottom of their feet and bless them to have a great week ahead in Jesus name amen!
-Dayne
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Prodigal Son or Self Righteous Son?