Luke 15:28-29 “..the older son became angry and wouldn’t go into the house. So his father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! All these years I’ve worked like a slave for you. I’ve never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet you’ve never given me so much as a young goat for a festival so I could celebrate with my friends." (ISV)
The prodigal son's brother was a prodigal himself except not many know this because he never left the home. He might of not left, and squandered his inheritance, and he might of obeyed his father's commandments, but his heart was never really there to begin with. The older son thought his father's love depended on his works and obedience - in how good he could be. We see the symptoms of this in his reaction towards the father's forgiveness of the repentant son; First there was anger and a lack of grace on his part, he refused to fellowship with someone who in his eyes couldn't measure up to him. Secondly he relied on his works and obedience to measure his worth. Thirdly he was focusing on what he didn't have and what another did have instead of being content with also having his father's love.
The relationship of many in the church today can be likened to that of "the older son" with the Father. Many are going to church and obeying and keeping God's commandments to the best of their abilities on the surface but inwardly they don't truly understand what grace and God's love really is. We cannot earn God's love or merit His grace because it is something given and not deserved. The father's attitude was the same towards both of his sons - he loved them both and he cared for them, the only difference is that only one of them understood this. Do we understand this?
The relationship of many in the church today can be likened to that of "the older son" with the Father. Many are going to church and obeying and keeping God's commandments to the best of their abilities on the surface but inwardly they don't truly understand what grace and God's love really is. We cannot earn God's love or merit His grace because it is something given and not deserved. The father's attitude was the same towards both of his sons - he loved them both and he cared for them, the only difference is that only one of them understood this. Do we understand this?
- HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD UNLIKE THE ONE THE OLDER SON HAD WITH HIS FATHER? WHAT ARE THE DANGERS IN COVETING ANOTHER'S BLESSINGS?
- Jn 21:21-22 "Peter asked Jesus, "What about him, Lord?" 22 Jesus replied, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me." (NLT)