Thursday, August 26, 2021
Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. "And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. "And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.' "But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. Luke 15:25-28
What About Me
What about me? How come they didn’t recognize me and what I have done?
I have worked harder and put way more effort in than them.
Have you ever said these words, or at least felt this way? I think we all have at one time or another in our lives. In the story of the prodigal son, the older brother felt this way when the prodigal brother returned, and he found out that his father was planning a big party to celebrate. He was angry because he felt like it was unfair. After all he had been home all this time – always doing the right things and following all the rules unnoticed. He felt very entitled to have the attention that was going to his brother, because of his good behavior. His brother was rebellious and disrespectful of his father and his inheritance, yet they were celebrating him!
Read verse 29 in the Good News translation:
Look, all these years I have worked for you like a slave, and I have never disobeyed your orders. What have you given me? Not even a goat for me to have a feast with my friends! But this son of yours wasted all your property on prostitutes, and when he comes back home, you kill the prize calf for him!" Luke 15:29 GNB
The problem that this son was having was that he felt like all the works he had done should have earned him the recognition and reward his brother was getting. He didn’t feel like his father had rejoiced in him. He didn’t realize that the father was rejoicing because the brother was dead and has begun to live and was lost and has been found. He had come home and repented, regardless of all he had done wrong. The older son had been there the whole time with the father, but instead of having a relationship with his father he was busy going through the motions, following rules, and doing all the things. The younger son may have been rebellious, had broken all the rules, and left, but he had realized the value of the relationship with the father, and had come home in repentance.
The same is true for us with our Heavenly Father. We can stay busy following rules, doing all the things, and staying in His house, but if we neglect the relationship, none of it really matters. Until we realize how we have sinned against Him, and repent, it is all in vain. He doesn’t care about our works if we have no relationship with Him. Without a relationship with Him, the works are only for us. He wants us to die to our sin and begin to live in Him, to have a relationship with Him.
Like the older son, we can get wrapped up in checking all the boxes and forget the joy and blessing of being with the Father. He loves us and wants a relationship with us more than He wants us to do the things. Then we can rejoice with Him when one who was dead in sin repents and begins to live, and when those who are lost have been found.
And he said to him, Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live and was lost and has been found. Luke 15:31-32
