The "Un-Prodigal" Son
The “Un-Prodigal” Son
We have heard so much about the “Parable of the prodigal son” in Luke 15. I am not sure if that should be the appropriate title for the parable as you may see in some Bibles. There were three main characters in the parable, the Father, the prodigal son (I prefer the lost son) and the “un-prodigal” son (the older of the two). What exactly does Jesus want us to understand from the parable? The younger, prodigal son asked for his portion of riches from their father. He went away and spent all of it in rebellious living with the “street boys and girls”. He finally came to his senses because he had hit the rock bottom (eating what pigs eat). In every day life, sometimes the only way for us to come to our senses is to reach the bottom. Be careful about stopping people from reaching their bottom. We often stand in the way of God who has all things under control in the lives of His children. The prodigal son came back, asked for forgiveness and repented of his sins. And the gracious father welcomed him and made a big party. What about the so called “good” un-prodigal son? What are we to learn from him?
Luke 15: 25-32
25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
31" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "
Here are my observations from the passage in addition to the ones you may have.
1. Remember that Jesus was telling the parable because of the Pharisees and scribes who accused him of eating and welcoming tax collectors and “sinners”. Jesus was indirectly telling the Pharisees you are the second son, the so called “good” older son. Jesus is saying look “God is for all”. God is for the Pharisee (who thinks they deserve mercy from God but would not extend mercy to others) and He is for the gentiles who don’t even deserve his mercy. God does not have favorite sons and daughters. God desires that all repent and come to Him and does not want any to perish.
2. Did you see the big lie of the so called “good”, un-prodigal son? He told his father, “I have never transgressed your commandment at any time”. Who has not transgressed and sinned? Self righteousness always exposes our lies. And some times, our anger against our brother is based on lies and false information or assumptions. The older brother is angry because he thinks he has done every thing expected of the father. Whenever anger rises inside of us, the first thing to check is whether all the truth we need to know in the circumstances is present. I have found myself angry for nothing because of erroneous assumptions.
3. Notice the judgment rendered against the father by the second son, the so called un-prodigal son. The result of self-righteousness is hash judgment against others and against God. When we stop seeing our own sins, we become judges instead of sons and daughters who have been forgiven and granted God’s mercies. Remember, all of God’s ways are righteous and He judges righteously. God has never made a mistake and will never in the future.
4. We judge God in many ways. One obvious and often repeated way is when we start to compare what God has done for others but has not done for us. God has enough for all his children, and He will care for all his children. What are you accusing God for today? Maybe for something you have prayed for and have not yet received? Remember, like the father in the parable, God is saying, “Son (daughter), you are always with me, and all that I have is yours”. Can you rest in that assurance today? God has you covered.
5. The hero in the story of the parable is the Father. The father is gracious to both the prodigal and the un-prodigal son. God does not change because of what we do. His love for us is not based on our performance. If it were, then the prodigal son would not have had a chance of being welcomed back by the father. Hear the Father’s heart. “Bring out the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet…. For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” Are you still measuring your acceptance by God based on what you do and don’t do? Give it up and live a free life based on His grace and mercy. Please do the same for your natural children if you have any and for those around you. Freely extend grace you have received. You can’t love others based on what they do and don’t do for you. God does not love you that way and why should you?
6. The un-prodigal son is what I call the “joy spoiler”. He would not have fun but will not let others enjoy what God has given them. We are told to rejoice with those rejoice and weep with those who weep. Are you rejoicing with others? Maybe you are not because you are too busy working hard thinking all of life depends on your hard work. Please relax and let others do the same. Having a great party comes from the acknowledgment that all that we have belongs to God and comes from him. The theme of our parties should be for thanksgiving to our Father who has given us all things including His son Jesus Christ. Go ahead and celebrate but don’t charge it on your credit card. When you get into debt as a result of your celebration you are no longer giving thanks for what God has already given you.
Do you see yourself in the parable? I see myself acting like both sons sometimes and other times. Have you come to your senses and have asked for forgiveness and repented of your sins? Or are you full of common sense instead of God’s grace? When you are full of common sense instead of full of God’s grace you will always be judging others instead of enjoying the love and celebrating the mercies of God. Common sense does not forgive rather it wants vengeance. Also don’t be a party spoiler, or joy killer. Enjoy what God has given you and let others freely do so. Finally, let us go after the lost and find and welcome them with open arms to celebrate. “It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found”. May God help us! Amen!
We have heard so much about the “Parable of the prodigal son” in Luke 15. I am not sure if that should be the appropriate title for the parable as you may see in some Bibles. There were three main characters in the parable, the Father, the prodigal son (I prefer the lost son) and the “un-prodigal” son (the older of the two). What exactly does Jesus want us to understand from the parable? The younger, prodigal son asked for his portion of riches from their father. He went away and spent all of it in rebellious living with the “street boys and girls”. He finally came to his senses because he had hit the rock bottom (eating what pigs eat). In every day life, sometimes the only way for us to come to our senses is to reach the bottom. Be careful about stopping people from reaching their bottom. We often stand in the way of God who has all things under control in the lives of His children. The prodigal son came back, asked for forgiveness and repented of his sins. And the gracious father welcomed him and made a big party. What about the so called “good” un-prodigal son? What are we to learn from him?
Luke 15: 25-32
25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
31" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "
Here are my observations from the passage in addition to the ones you may have.
1. Remember that Jesus was telling the parable because of the Pharisees and scribes who accused him of eating and welcoming tax collectors and “sinners”. Jesus was indirectly telling the Pharisees you are the second son, the so called “good” older son. Jesus is saying look “God is for all”. God is for the Pharisee (who thinks they deserve mercy from God but would not extend mercy to others) and He is for the gentiles who don’t even deserve his mercy. God does not have favorite sons and daughters. God desires that all repent and come to Him and does not want any to perish.
2. Did you see the big lie of the so called “good”, un-prodigal son? He told his father, “I have never transgressed your commandment at any time”. Who has not transgressed and sinned? Self righteousness always exposes our lies. And some times, our anger against our brother is based on lies and false information or assumptions. The older brother is angry because he thinks he has done every thing expected of the father. Whenever anger rises inside of us, the first thing to check is whether all the truth we need to know in the circumstances is present. I have found myself angry for nothing because of erroneous assumptions.
3. Notice the judgment rendered against the father by the second son, the so called un-prodigal son. The result of self-righteousness is hash judgment against others and against God. When we stop seeing our own sins, we become judges instead of sons and daughters who have been forgiven and granted God’s mercies. Remember, all of God’s ways are righteous and He judges righteously. God has never made a mistake and will never in the future.
4. We judge God in many ways. One obvious and often repeated way is when we start to compare what God has done for others but has not done for us. God has enough for all his children, and He will care for all his children. What are you accusing God for today? Maybe for something you have prayed for and have not yet received? Remember, like the father in the parable, God is saying, “Son (daughter), you are always with me, and all that I have is yours”. Can you rest in that assurance today? God has you covered.
5. The hero in the story of the parable is the Father. The father is gracious to both the prodigal and the un-prodigal son. God does not change because of what we do. His love for us is not based on our performance. If it were, then the prodigal son would not have had a chance of being welcomed back by the father. Hear the Father’s heart. “Bring out the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet…. For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” Are you still measuring your acceptance by God based on what you do and don’t do? Give it up and live a free life based on His grace and mercy. Please do the same for your natural children if you have any and for those around you. Freely extend grace you have received. You can’t love others based on what they do and don’t do for you. God does not love you that way and why should you?
6. The un-prodigal son is what I call the “joy spoiler”. He would not have fun but will not let others enjoy what God has given them. We are told to rejoice with those rejoice and weep with those who weep. Are you rejoicing with others? Maybe you are not because you are too busy working hard thinking all of life depends on your hard work. Please relax and let others do the same. Having a great party comes from the acknowledgment that all that we have belongs to God and comes from him. The theme of our parties should be for thanksgiving to our Father who has given us all things including His son Jesus Christ. Go ahead and celebrate but don’t charge it on your credit card. When you get into debt as a result of your celebration you are no longer giving thanks for what God has already given you.
Do you see yourself in the parable? I see myself acting like both sons sometimes and other times. Have you come to your senses and have asked for forgiveness and repented of your sins? Or are you full of common sense instead of God’s grace? When you are full of common sense instead of full of God’s grace you will always be judging others instead of enjoying the love and celebrating the mercies of God. Common sense does not forgive rather it wants vengeance. Also don’t be a party spoiler, or joy killer. Enjoy what God has given you and let others freely do so. Finally, let us go after the lost and find and welcome them with open arms to celebrate. “It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found”. May God help us! Amen!
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