11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. ~ Luke 15:11-16
The youngest son took his inheritance and left his father’s house. This is the majority of us today. We accept the generational blessings that come from our ancestors, the spiritual gifts, and the natural talent God has given us, and then we leave His presence. So many of us want the blessings of God, we want the Kingdom of Heaven, but we want it while living in the world. This is the desire of the youngest son. He wants his father’s wealth but doesn’t want to dwell with his father.
So, the son leaves with the generational blessings, the spiritual gifts, and the natural talent and goes off living in the world. But all that the father gave to his son isn’t enough for his reckless living in the world. So many of us take out our inheritance, and we’re successful, we’re influential, and we’re happy, but we’re not joyful. Happiness is relative. It’s dependent on our situation, other people’s reactions and words, the news, etc. But joy is dependent on God, and He does not change.
Many of us are successful in the world, but spiritually we’re sleeping with the pigs. Spiritually we’re broke and broken. We’re struggling with emptiness, brokenness, and depression. We’re struggling with self-doubt, loneliness, anger, and stress. These things can only be filled, fixed, and restored by and with God. Our inheritance without God can only last so long. It can only do so much. God gives us out of the abundance He has, but He can only give out of His abundance if you’re with Him.
The world brings us emptiness and depression, but God brings us a cup that runs over. Those who drink never thirst again. Those who eat never hunger again. Those who come to Him are satisfied, restored, and overflowing with more than we could ever imagine.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Leave The Spiritual Pigs.