Prodigal

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READ: Luke 15:11

CHALLENGE: Be a Great Parent and Leave the Rest with God

1. THE STORY

Vv11-12 –  Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

There was a man who had two sons and he got an outrageous request from the youngest of the two.  Give me my share of the estate.  How unbelievable. How arrogant.  Isn’t inheritance typically given after the father has died?  Yes!  This request is painful.  This is not normal behavior and it’s basically saying that you wish your father were dead.  You really would be better off without him having any guidance or say over your life.  Outrageous! 

What kind of bite did it take out of the family business I wonder?  Did it jeopardize the farm so to speak?  Did it weaken his holdings or threaten his future investment capital?  This story will clearly paint out how bad this son truly is.  If you think he’s a spoiled jerk, you’re probably right and he’s worst.  It’s kind of the point of the story – he is atrocious! 

I wonder why this father chose to honor his son’s outrageous demand?  He could have said, no.  He could have told him to get back in line.  Perhaps he hoped that he would invest it wisely and build something of his own.  Perhaps he would do something to enhance the family name.  That’s certainly not what happened. 

The father is representative of our gracious God in this story and we the Prodigal.  God doesn’t force us to stay, and he certainly doesn’t commandeer free will.  He lets you make decisions but it’s wise to stay on the path! 

Before moving on, I’d like to point out that the father was not doing anything wrong.  There was nothing wrong with the work of a son or the circumstances of his life.  There was nothing wrong with the food or the house.  The son was leaving a situation that he would later be happy to run back to as an employee.  So, the problem isn’t the house or the dad or the brother. 

Sometimes a parent can do exactly what they’re supposed to do and a child rebels thinking they’ll find life to be so much better without their parents.  It’s like I told my dad – I can’t wait to get out of the house because then there will be no rules!  He laughed at that one – there are always rules. 

Rebellion and deception are real things.  Why do people sober for years suddenly jump back into addiction?  It’s not like there was anything wrong with sobriety.  You can’t really blame other people.  It’s not the sponsors fault or CR’s fault or the church’s fault.  We’re all still here but for some reason they thought a godless world would give them a better deal.  So, they decide to jump ship and chase the fleeting and costly pleasures of the world. 

This amazing story depicts God’s joy when even the worst of sinners repent and come back to the fold.  God welcomes repentant sinners with open arms.  Even when they’ve been ridiculous. 

B. WISDOM FOR CHILDREN

Vv13-20 – “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.

Our job in preaching is to take lessons from the passage and learn from them.  That’s the point of looking at a particular Scripture so let’s make some observations.

1. Appreciate What You Have

When it says that the son got his things together, this is the money made from the sale of assets. They say that the dad would control the inheritance until death.  But when the younger son shocks the family by selling out, the dad doesn’t control it then.  This son liquidated a concrete asset that would continue to provide funds in the future.  He disinherited himself as his brother had the rest of the property once it was divided.  He will have no recourse once the money is gone. 

Do You Appreciate What You Have?

It occurred to me that the young man did not appreciate what he had.  Correct?  He wanted to leave even though he had many advantages.  He had a home.  A roof over his head.  Food.  Parents who loved him. Opportunity.  A good future.  He was a son and had standing above the servants.  He had responsibilities, structure, and a reason to move forward. 

Apparently, he started to perceive his blessings as a curse.  Some believe that responsibility is like a ball and chain!  The responsibility of family seems to be a huge burden for some young people these days.  Some run from it forgetting that it’s a purpose for existing.  Being a parent is way more important than squandering life on pleasure or experiences. 

In his arrogance he thought, I can do it better.  I can find a better life.  There’s a better situation.  There’s something more than what I have and I need that!  It’s a discontentment that can infect your soul which makes you unhappy with what you have.

Do our children always appreciate what they have in their parents? 

In later years the same children will be calling their parents for nearly everything.  However, you can lose appreciation for how blessed you truly are. 

Often times, young people cannot wait to get out of their area and pretty much live anywhere but where they grew up!  And then, they end up right back here!  My encouragement is to count your blessings and appreciate what you have. 

This type of non-appreciative thinking can happen in marriage, in families, in organizations, and even in churches.  There’s always something better.  It’s not good enough.  It’s kind of sad to miss out on the blessings right in front of you.  We adults might forget about how outstanding our spouse is.  That discontentment can disconnect you from the blessings you have.

• Stay Grounded / Connected

set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living

Let’s note that he goes to a distant country.  He’s getting as far away from mom and dad as he possibly can but look at what happens when he gets outside of that family unit.  He squanders what he has, throwing it to the wind!  And he throws the money to the Gentiles which would be abhorrent to the Jewish mindset. 

Do we ever stop to think, how truly badly this child behaved?  He lived wildly which would include partying and immorality.  He’s despicable.  He’s not even remotely respectable and keep that in mind when the father welcomes him back.  How bad he is, is an important part of the story. 

While he’s out there where no one knows him, he doesn’t have the accountability that that he had at home.  He doesn’t need to worry about the family name, no one tells him “no”, and he parties on.  No one cared about him, no one had a different ethic, no one checks his behavior. 

When he leaves his dad, he leaves direction.  He leaves structure and purpose and community.  He goes out on his own and once untethered by family connections, reputation, he feels free to plunge into sin.  However, he was doing much better when he was connected with family!  What grounds us?  Family.  Church.  God.  These are moorings that keep us stable.  We need that connection, that rock.  The currents are fast out in the world. 

I remember white water rafting and the raft flipped.  It was surprising how far down the river we went before collecting everyone.  The currents are strong! 

We don’t want to walk away from our heavenly dad and think that’s not going to impact us in life.  We leave God and we leave great direction and help in our time of need. 

• Count the Cost

After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.  He spent everything!!  You have to look ahead and ponder the consequences of your behavior.  This is true of spending, gambling, immorality, and a host of other things.  As God’s children we need to ponder where our current path is leading.  We don’t want to lose great things we have in a pursuit of lesser things.  Never trade in the greater for the lesser!  Now that he has no resources, he’s in a world of hurt. 

Spiritually speaking, we are given SO much!  And if we were to go the way of the world, we’re squandering precious resources.  The resources of grace and direction and help.  The life that God offers is better by far.  More hope, more peace, more strength, more blessings, more joy.  He’s been a fool, however, he doesn’t have to stay a fool. 

• Wake Up

A severe famine hits the land as he plunges for rock bottom.  It says he was starving to death.  A son, is hired by Gentiles, to feed unclean animals.  He longs to eat swine food!  Carob pods were a food source that only the poorest of the poor ate.  This is how bad it has become.  There was a rabbinic saying that read, “When the Israelites are reduced to carob pods, they seek to repent”.  He was low!

And there are times you have to hit your rock bottom before you see the folly of your ways.  And seeing the folly is when you’re waking up to the damage you’ve done and the importance of heading back to a good life. 

He came to his senses.  Another rabbinic proverb said, “When a son abroad goes barefoot [becomes destitute], then he remembers the comfort of his father’s house”.  He finally woke up! 

He was a son and that wasn’t good enough for him.  Now, even being a servant is better than his current life.  Hunger will do that for you.  He realized that his father’s servants were better off than he was.  He realizes that no one gave him anything because no one cared.  The dad cares about his people. 

And here’s the thing.  You can’t stop trying.  If you’ve blown it, you need to do what’s right and get back on track.  There’s nothing you can do about the past so you can only focus on moving forward.  Once you wake up out of denial there’s only one direction to go. 

• Humbly Take Responsibility

He said, “I’ve sinned against heaven and against you”.  Every sin has a Godward component because sin is when you don’t do what God tells you to do.  It’s everything that is counter to the will of God. Much of that is found in the 10 Commandments which is an awesome statement of fundamental righteousness. 

The sin was wasting the money – it’s practically criminal.  It’s the immorality and partying and debauchery and all of it.  It’s dishonoring your parents.  Exodus 20:12 – “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” He realizes that he was wrong.  And this is such an important step in getting right with God and others. 

He realizes that he sinned against heaven and his dad.  This is my part.  He doesn’t go back pointing fingers.  His decisions have led to a disaster and it’s on him.  Taking responsibility means taking the blame.  It’s not, “I realize I did this but you did that”.  When you say, I know did this wrong but you did this and that, you’re shifting blame.  When you’ve blown it, you have to admit that you’ve blown it and that makes you far more forgivable.  “I’m unworthy to be called your son, make me a servant”.  He realized that sin changes relationships. 

This is what repentance looks like.  You have a true godly sorrow and you understand that things are different because of what you’ve done.  This is repentance.  His attitude and thoughts about life have been forever changed!  Sin has humbled him. 

C. WISDOM FOR PARENTS

Vv20-24 – So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. ²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

1. Parents Don’t Need to Move

The dad didn’t have to change his views.  His son did.  Let’s not cave to the world by chasing after adult children who are pursuing the world’s values and ways.  You don’t have to cave on what you believe.

The dad did not come and support the son in wild living.  If he had, perhaps nothing changes.  It’s tricky territory and every parent has to navigate their specific situation. 

The son comes back to him, the father doesn’t go to the son.  And I appreciate that no one bailed the son out or made it easy.  He needed to learn the lessons life was teaching without mom and dad enabling him. 

• Parents Have Hope

The father saw him from a distance.  Is the father looking for him?  Was he longing for that day when his son would come back?  And he recognized him even though he was a long distance away.  He knew – that’s my son! 

There is always hope that a child will come back to their roots.  Proverbs 22:6 – Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

If you have a good relationship and if you’re grounded them well, there’s a good chance they will circle back to that.  Many parents struggle with teens as the teen is distant or doesn’t seem to want to connect with them.  I tell the parents this – you win in the end!  There’s a connection that you have that extends throughout all of life.

• Parents Have Compassion

He accepted his son back.  He ran to him.  They say that it was undignified for an older man to run but he did it.  He didn’t care what anyone else thought.  He throws his arms around his son and kissed him.  The fact that the child was coming back said it all.  The child doesn’t have to say much that he’s not saying by showing up.  We probably have plenty of prodigals who walk through the door of the church.  The fact that they are here speaks volumes. 

The Father isn’t saying, “Told you so”.  “You left”.  “You blew it”.  “You’re a disappointment”.  Those words never leave his lips – he shows compassion and joy that he has returned. 

Perhaps we could say people need more of a hug than a lecture when they’re coming back to God.  They don’t need schooling when they’ve been schooled by life.  They need love and compassion and happiness that they are returning home where they belong. 

And compassion means care.  You really care for the person despite their mistakes. 

• Parents Have Grace

It’s hard to be gracious to people who have hurt us.  The key is that the son is repentant.  The son isn’t looking for anything more than a job feeding the animals, let’s say.

The dad puts a robe on him, gives him a ring, throws him a party.  We still use the expression of “killed the fatted calf”.  It’s so undeserving and unexpected. 

The father is overjoyed.  This is how God feels when a sinner returns home.  And let’s remember how despicable the behavior was.  Some might think the Father was a fool to take him back and throw him a celebration.  People do behave badly and grace gives us the ability to accept them despite what they have done and especially when they are changed.

There is blessing for returning to God.  Let’s never think it too late or that we’re too far gone.  That’s not the case.  This story is a beautiful illustration of how happy God is when we turn it around and repent.  He is thrilled by it.

Vv31-32  – “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

This is the point of the passage.  What was lost is found.  And some people have been lost.  They are out there and struggling.  We come to God.  We turn not to ourselves but to him.  John 3:16