The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-24)
When you read about this family, you may feel for each member. We are told only a small amount about their life.
The father: Christian fathers hope for the best for their children. We know each child must make their decision for their life. Fathers are told to train their children.
“And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 (NKJV).
Most fathers may question how well they did their job when one child goes away from the Lord. I don’t think fathers question how well they did when one is faithful to the Lord. The father was not pleased when the younger son went away and lived a sinful life. He was pleased with the older son who stayed and lived a good life. We can understand the father.
The living God is the father of all Christians. We are to respect and honor our heavenly father at all times. We are to praise him for his righteousness. We are to thank him for his gifts. We are to obey him because of love.
When the younger son came back to his father, the father received him warmly! When a child of God wanders into sin God is not pleased. When the child returns in repentance, as the younger son, God, the heavenly father receives him warmly.
The younger son: This young man took his inheritance from his father. We must remember that an inheritance is a gift not something which is earned!
When one obeys the Lord in faith, repentance, confession and baptism, one receives an inheritance. Not the inheritance of a home in heaven, but an inheritance of the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life.
The younger son wasted his inheritance on sinful living.
Remember the people in the parable of the sower. Some received (obeyed) the word, but it was choked out by sin. “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” Matthew 13:22.
We can understand the temptation to leave God for sin.
The younger son “hit bottom.” He had gone as low as he could. He was broke financially, hungry with nowhere to turn. When he came to himself, (Luke 15:17) he knew what it was like at his father’s house. He knew the hired servants of his father was cared for! He decide to repent and ask his father for a job as a hired servant. He knew he was unworthy to be his father’s son!
He went home barefoot, hungry and repentant! He humbled himself and asked for a job. His father took him back as his son. God does not have hired servants, only children! Has sin separated you from God? Repent and come back. He will forgive! We understand the younger son!
The older son: This son had not wasted his inheritance. He had not gone and lived a sinful life. He was a good fellow! Did he have a problem? When he learned his brother had come home, he did not rejoice
He did not want this younger son home! He knew what his brother had done. He knew the brother had shamed the family. Notice he does not call the younger son his brother, but to the father he said “your son.” People today live and feel that way toward wayward family and wayward Christians.
His father explained to the older son it was right to rejoice because the younger son had returned.
“He was dead and is alive.” The older son was in sin because he did not want to forgive his brother!
Who are you -- the father, the younger son or the older son?
The heavenly father is waiting to welcome back the lost.
“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20.
Vernon Curry has preached at the Highland Drive Church of Christ in Poplar Bluff for about 16 years.