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. 25 Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 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.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’” ~ Luke 15:11-12, 25-32
The Prodigal Son is one of the most well-known parables in the world. Most focus on the dangers of self-desire that corrupted the youngest son and led him to a place of filth and sin, but very few focus on the older brother, who never left his father’s house. See, both of these sons represent the Church. One stayed faithful, but one left and corrupted himself. When the younger son returned home, and the father welcomed him home with great joy and celebration, the oldest son was offended by the father’s act of love. Many of us are like the older son. We don’t leave the faith. We remain as faithful as we possibly can, so when we see someone who is in and out of the Church return and receive blessings and maybe even start preaching or leading in the Church, we become indignant because we don’t feel they deserve it. If someone deserves recognition, we feel it should be us.
We’re like the older son. We’re so focused on all the blessings and favor someone else (who we don’t believe deserves it) is getting that we overlook all the blessings and favor we’ve received. The oldest son walked out of his father’s house, but there is no record of him returning to his father’s house. We have to understand that our Heavenly father blessings all of us, but some of us miss out on blessings simply because we haven’t claimed them. Just as the father told his oldest son that all he was his, Jesus is telling us the same thing. He already purchased our healing, freedom, peace, blessing, favor, etc., but sometimes we miss out even though we’ve never strayed. Maybe we’ve taken everything for granted. Maybe our faith wasn’t strong enough. Maybe we didn’t know how to claim our inheritance.
Regardless of the reason, we can’t be envious of someone else’s gifts and blessings. They weren’t ours to begin with, so how can we expect to decide who receives them? Rejoice with the prodigal regardless of their past. Rejoice because your brother (or sister) in Christ was dead, but now they’re alive and home in the arms of our Heavenly Father.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Don’t Leave The Celebration.
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