I've always loved the story of the Prodigal Son. It's such a great story of restoration and forgiveness. Over the years I've thought of the miserable older brother. That older brother had such a feeling of superiority until he could not enjoy life. He was like the man in the Scripture who said I fast three times a week. I pray everyday. I give to the poor. I've done all the right things. The elder brother never considered that maybe something he was doing required his father to forgive him too. He was tight lipped, feeling superior, and doing his duty. He never showed or expressed hospitality to his friends. At night he was content to stew in his own self righteousness, never conversing with his father, never trying to find out what were his father's concerns.
The older brother may have thought well I never went to a dance, never smoked a cigarette, never drank, never had sex outside of marriage,and never ran away and squandered my father's money. He was pretty near perfect in his own eyes. This is not an invitation to go do those things. It is an acknowledgement that those of us who have never ventured outwardly into visible sin still have the old wicked inner man with which to deal. In fact witness the children of Israel. Bringing millions of bodies out of Egypt was immensely easier for God than to get Egypt out of the soul of one man. Egypt is inner twined in the warp and woof of our nature. We need the Baptism of not just of the Jordan, but of the mighty burning fire of the Holy Spirit.
The other problem with the elder brother was he was bitter against his father. Like Jonah he knew what kind of father he had. He knew his dad was loving, compassionate and tender hearted. You don't live with a person day after day and that person's real life not be made manifest. So he was bitter with his brother as well as being disgusted with his father. He cast aspersions on his father. You didn't give me a party for my friends. you didn't kill the fatted calf for me, blah, blah, blah. He was bitter and angry.
This part of the story is a warning to us who never left, as it were the father or the church. Listen to the kind words of the father to the bitter, unforgiving son. Son, all I have is yours. You can and could have anything you want from my storehouse of possessions. You want a party, have a party. You want a new robe, have a robe. You want a fatted calf, get it and have it prepared for you. It's always been yours to use.
This is the thing that the younger son understood, but did not use wisely. He understood the father's possessions were the father's to give whenever the father saw fit. The older son did not learn the lesson. Who was the most miserable in this story? Don't let it be said that those who have walked with God since childhood or a long time are frustrated, prideful, mean spirited and unforgiving people. Have the party! Enjoy the Father's things! God would have it so.
The older brother may have thought well I never went to a dance, never smoked a cigarette, never drank, never had sex outside of marriage,and never ran away and squandered my father's money. He was pretty near perfect in his own eyes. This is not an invitation to go do those things. It is an acknowledgement that those of us who have never ventured outwardly into visible sin still have the old wicked inner man with which to deal. In fact witness the children of Israel. Bringing millions of bodies out of Egypt was immensely easier for God than to get Egypt out of the soul of one man. Egypt is inner twined in the warp and woof of our nature. We need the Baptism of not just of the Jordan, but of the mighty burning fire of the Holy Spirit.
The other problem with the elder brother was he was bitter against his father. Like Jonah he knew what kind of father he had. He knew his dad was loving, compassionate and tender hearted. You don't live with a person day after day and that person's real life not be made manifest. So he was bitter with his brother as well as being disgusted with his father. He cast aspersions on his father. You didn't give me a party for my friends. you didn't kill the fatted calf for me, blah, blah, blah. He was bitter and angry.
This part of the story is a warning to us who never left, as it were the father or the church. Listen to the kind words of the father to the bitter, unforgiving son. Son, all I have is yours. You can and could have anything you want from my storehouse of possessions. You want a party, have a party. You want a new robe, have a robe. You want a fatted calf, get it and have it prepared for you. It's always been yours to use.
This is the thing that the younger son understood, but did not use wisely. He understood the father's possessions were the father's to give whenever the father saw fit. The older son did not learn the lesson. Who was the most miserable in this story? Don't let it be said that those who have walked with God since childhood or a long time are frustrated, prideful, mean spirited and unforgiving people. Have the party! Enjoy the Father's things! God would have it so.
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