The Prodigal Son Hits Home

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is perhaps one of the most told and re told tales from the Bible. But it was only until recently as I was doing my cell group assignment, did I see an added dimension to the moral of the story.

And believe me, it does hit home.

For those who may have forgotten or don’t know the parable yet, here’s an overview…

The Parable of the Prodigal Son (An Overview of Luke 15:11-31)

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There was a father who had two sons. And one day, the younger of the two, asked for his heritage even while his father was still alive. So the father gave him his portion.

The son gathered everything he had and went off to a far away country. There, he lived a wild life and squandered everything he had.

When he has spent everything, a famine has set on the land, and the younger son found himself to be in need.

He found himself a job feeding pigs for a citizen of that country. And he was so hungry he was willing to eat the food that the pigs were eating.

But still, no one gave him anything. 

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When he came to his senses, he made a decision to go back to his father, and be hired as just one of the servants. Because in his father's house, even the servants have enough food to eat.

So he set off to return to his father.

While he was still a long way from their house, the father saw him, ran off to meet him, then hugged and kissed him. The son said to his father, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”

But the father accepted him back and restored his full privilege as his son. And as if that's not enough, he even threw a feast!

Now, the older son was working on the field as all these were taking place. And on his way home, he heard merry making when he neared the house. So he called one of the servants to ask what it was all about. The servant replied, “Your brother has returned, and you father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.”

Upon hearing this. He got very angry and refused to go in the house. So the father went out and pleaded with him. But the older son answered his father, “Look! All these years, I have been slaving for you and never disobeyed you. Yet you never even gave me a young goat so I can celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours comes home, you killed the fattened calf for him!”

The father replied,”My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we need to celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is now found.”

I used to see this story as only applicable to those lost souls who found refuge in God, or Christians who backslid big time, and made their way back. Like something in the degree of a boy being involved in drugs and throwing his life away, but finally wanting to get his life back on track. Or a girl who's been with lots of men, and upon realizing the error of her ways, dedicates her life to God.

However, it's actually less dramatic and a little more closer to our natural tendencies.

Here's how I find the Parable of the Prodigal Son applicable to most of us...

There came a time when we asked for blessings (heritage) from God.

But not just any blessings. These are the blessings that we consider, if given to us, would make us very happy and contented for the rest of our lives. They may come in the form of riches, love, career, or just about anything.

We wanted to have them right at that moment, and wouldn't want to wait for God's perfect timing, which would be when we are spiritually, psychologically and emotionally prepared to receive them.

Yet we are persistent, and He is a compassionate God, so he allows us to receive those blessings.

Now, what happens once we tasted and enjoyed them?

We distance ourselves from God (went off to a far away country). We lose sight of the provider and just focus on the gifts. What's supposedly a blessing from God, replaces Him in our hearts.

Then as trouble (famine) comes, and we have already used up the blessings, what do we do?

Some of us may turn back to God immediately. But some of us may still try to solve the current problem with our own means and limited knowledge. Thus, we find ourselves settling for mediocre substitutes instead of basking in what God has planned for us (he found a job feeding pigs).

Only then, when all else fails, do we remember our God (when he came to his senses)! We want to turn back to Him. But, there is still our guilt holding us back. And we doubt if God will still accept us (Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son).

However, He readily accepts us when we go back! He even looks for ways to call on to us... As I have personally experienced and shared on my article The Path Back Home – A Christian Testimony.

Also, God's grace for the lost is described in Matthew 18:12-14...

"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish."

As for the older brother... I think he pretty much represents the skeptics in our church. They are the ones, who, instead of being happy when a brother or a sister comes back, resort to gossiping; They are the self righteous ones who commit no sin, and stand ready to judge or make fun of others. It's people like these who make going to church a lot of fun for some, and who make more people want to be Christians.

'Know what I mean..?

Let me end by telling you something that might surprise you: We all have been guilty of being the older brother, at the very least, once (Whaaaa... Really!? Shucks... No...).

And all of us have prodigal son tendencies!

But through God's mercy, we should be willing to change for the better...

Because who we really ought to be more like, is the father.

God bless!