I recently re-read the famous prodigal son parable in the bible (Luke fifteen). I found it quite fascinating to discover that it was not only the younger son that has issues. The older son had serious issues too, despite being the apparently good one.
The Son
The obvious prodigal one, no doubt, was the younger son, and what he did was unacceptable, a total disregard for his father.
According to Jewish custom, you only get your inheritance after the death of your father. The son asking for his inheritance while his father was still alive was indirectly saying: “You are as good as dead to me. Let me go make a better life for myself. I have everything figured out.”
He thought money could make him the man he wanted to be. Money is just a tool, a brilliant tool that could work for you or a dangerous one that could harm you. After the whole experience, it would have dawned on him that it was better to have received wisdom and skills required for the effective management of the money he was due to inherit. He would have discovered that what he asked for was not what he needed at the time.
That sounds like us today. The son was keen to move into a new season that he was not prepared for. Not everyone can survive a new season without preparation. In this story we learn that timing is crucial. The inheritance was definitely his, but he got the timing wrong.
…he became hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good enough to eat to him.
When what you once disliked or knew were against your values begin to appeal to you, you are out of yourself, lost. Stop deceiving yourself, saying, “Everything is under control.” Something is wrong. Step back, look again and reassess yourself.
The Lavish, Merciful Father
What a gracious father he was! Despite the son’s audacious, yet insulting request, he still reasoned with him. After much talk and persuasion, the father accepted his son’s proposal, even though he knew how the story would turn out. The son’s behaviour did not change the father’s love. He was extravagant with his love and mercy towards him. He left the door wide open for him, whenever he decided to return home. He could have easily disowned him, a son that wished him dead. The father knew money could not offer his son what he was looking for and it was only a matter of time before he returned home. It’s important to always seek a second opinion especially from people that you respect, people who know you and the way you think. The father knew him more than he knew himself. He raised him up.
As a father, I have good insight into my children’s abilities, disposition and capabilities. A good father may not always support your wish, but he is always for you and has your keen interest at heart. Every good father wants happiness for his child, even if that involves letting go. The prodigal son’s father is a figurative example of God.
The Subtly Manipulating Son
A lot is not said about the elder son but one encounter after his brother’s return gave us a good insight into his thinking. The elder brother is as bad as his prodigal brother. He was doing everything right for the same reason his brother left home. He was probably subtly wishing his father dead so he could take full control of his inheritance. This came to light when his brother returned and he seemed like a threat to his inheritance.
Imagine what would have been going on in his head:
Now he’s back…don’t tell me I will have to share what’s mine with him. Why would my father kill the fattest calf and throw a party for him. That’s mine and he didn’t even seek my permission.
He was not interested in reconciling with his lost brother.
We should endeavour to extend mercy and grace to people who make mistakes either knowingly in their stupidity or unknowingly as life just happens to them. It could have been you.
