A Love Story from Christ
Luke 15:11-32 (NKJV) - The Parable of the Lost Son
Today as we take a fresh look at the Parable of the Prodigal Son, we want to look more deeply into what the Scripture says about the ramifications of the Father’s relationship with the elder brother.
In the story Jesus told we see the elder son come home from toiling in the fields to find a party going on. He asked one of servants what is happening and he is told that his father has slain the fatted calf to celebrate his younger brother’s return.
The elder son is angered and refuses to go in. Notice the elder son does not refer to the younger son as his brother but rather “that son of yours.”
Next we see the elder son attempt to justify his superiority over his younger brother because of the good works he has done. Value is not in what we do but why we do what we do. Character comes from the soul and the best works for the wrong motivations gain the doer nothing in God’s eyes.
It could well be that the elder son resents that his father takes him for granted and seems to show preference for the younger son.
The father’s reply is insightful. Son, you are always with me! Always in my heart and prayers. Always in my loving care. And all that I have is yours!
A few years back Father God through the Holy Spirit asked me, “Why are you angry with Me?” I didn’t even realize that I was angry with God, but when I looked at my heart I knew it was true. I was angry with God. I was angry that my life was not all peaches and cream. I was frustrated by the needless toil of life. I was angry because it seemed that God did not answer my prayers.
Yet I live in the most prosperous nation in the world. I have a nice house, food on my table, fairly good health, clean water and a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe.
The Holy Spirit then spoke again to my understanding and said, “I am faithful. I do not lie. My Word is true. I love you more than you can even know. If it seems otherwise the issue is not with Me.”
I was the elder son. I resented God my Father for not giving me heaven here on earth. And yet, Jesus said in John 14:31-14:
John 14:13-14 (NKJV)
What was my problem?
First Jesus said if I ask in His Name… that is if I ask what He would ask.
Second Jesus said in Mark 11:24, 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Third, in James 4:1-3 we are told: What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Fourth I allowed disillusionment and discouragement to steal my faith and change my world view that Jesus has given all authority to me to do the works that He did and greater works than that in His name.
I cannot obtain the future by looking to my past. I must keep my eyes on God’s Word.
Again, all that God has is ours. But we receive it on His terms, not our terms. Salvation, the gate into God’s kingdom is on God’s terms, through Jesus Christ, not on our terms.
Now if we want to be used of God to further His kingdom on earth and enrich our lives in so doing, we must do it on God’s terms and not be resentful of God because His ways are better than ours. This begins with remembering and believing that all God has, He has given to us.
2 Peter 1:2-4
He has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness! He has given them to us in the form of exceedingly great and precious promises. God has done His part and doesn’t change. It is now our part to appropriate the exceedingly great and precious promises through faith.
Come to God’s throne of grace boldly to find help in time of need.
Take God’s kingdom to the world boldly being aware that it is His good will to give you His kingdom!
Luke 12:31-32
It is imperative that we understand what Father God is saying to us through the story of the father and his elder son. “All that I have is yours!” All that God has is yours! Accept it on His terms! Use it on His terms!
Both the younger son and the elder son were sinners. Still their father loved them and gave all he had to both of them. Let us not be like the younger son and squander the God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Let us not be like the older son and forget that all our Father has is ours.
Be bold! Take all that God has given you and invest it in His kingdom work.
Let’s pray!
