More Than a StorySample

The past two days, we looked at the choices and consequences that the prodigal son made at the beginning of this parable told by Jesus. He asked for his inheritance from his wealthy father before his death. In Bible times, this would have been extremely offensive to the father. However, out of love toward his son, the father gives the son his inheritance. Not only does the son ask something offensive of his father, but once his father gives the son his inheritance, the son runs away from home to a faraway country to spend all his money until it is all gone.

There is a famine in the country that he ran away to, so he has to get a job working with pigs. Not only was working with pigs a demotion from his former wealthy life, but the people listening to this parable and the characters in this story would have seen this as a disgraceful position to be in because it was considered unclean. To top it all off, the prodigal son was so hungry he was very close to eating the pig slosh himself. This was his consequence for running away and spending all he had. He abused his father’s love and was now at the lowest of lows

Similarly, sin has consequences in our lives. When we chase after distractions and run away from God, we will experience the miserable consequences of our own rebellion. Whether we are tempted to eat pig slosh or not, a life of sin versus a life lived in obedience to Jesus is incomparable. A life lived in communion with Jesus doesn’t guarantee all hardships are gone, but it does guarantee a life of hope and joy instead of misery and worthlessness.

In the following days, we will study how the prodigal son came to his senses, repented, and went back home. In conclusion to this parable, we will read the father’s response to his son’s return and the response of the prodigal son’s brother. Spoiler alert: the father welcomes his runaway son home with a huge celebration, and the other son gets angry, yet his father still meets him with compassion and grace. What did the prodigal son do to deserve such a celebration? The answer is nothing. He rebelled, disgraced his father, and spent all his inheritance. Yet, his father’s love for him outweighed all the wrong things that he had done. The same is true of God our Father. No matter how far you have run away from God, He still loves you and is waiting for you to come home to Him. Like the prodigal son’s father, God is waiting compassionately for you to come to your senses and repent. The prodigal son didn’t stop at simply thinking about how he should go home and say sorry; he actually did it. Repentance is not only thinking about how your sin is wrong, but actually confessing and turning away from sin. It requires action.

To spoil the parable some more, the brother of the prodigal son gets angry that his brother is being celebrated because he did not do anything to deserve a celebration. Meanwhile, he had stayed home to work and serve his father with what seemed to be no reward. Oftentimes, when we get caught up in the works of our faith and the trap of comparison to those who aren’t living in obedience, we become like the brother of the prodigal son. We focus on ourselves instead of who we are serving and the purpose of obedience, which is done out of love and devotion to our Father. Yet, we still see the father respond with compassion to this son, too. The father reminds his son of his identity and belonging in his family because the son had felt unseen and unappreciated. When we allow bitterness to simmer in our hearts towards God, we have a similar response to His celebration of a repentant person.

The question to ask yourself is which brother are you? Are you choosing to rebel against God? Are you allowing bitterness and entitlement from consistent devotion and labor to him to build within your heart? What do you need to confess and repent of as we finish this week out? Remember, God cares for you and wants you to turn to Him.