The Prodigal and the Privileged

This past week I’ve heard the story of the prodigal son from two different speakers and they both brought great new insight to this already profound story. Maybe we might be able to relate with the younger son who ungratefully asked for his inheritance and recklessly spent it all on useless things. Some of us might be able to relate with the father who worried deeply for his young son whom he described as dead and lost and constantly hoping that he would come to his senses. And perhaps some of us might be able to relate with the older brother who felt like he had faithfully served the father without being appreciated for the hard work.

Being the youngest sibling, I can recall the many times I was ungrateful and reckless with the way I went about life and how I interacted with my mom and dad.  I remember those times when mum and dad would have been wondering where I was both location-wise and spiritually. They must have been worried sick but they took it to the Lord in prayer and I am forever grateful for that because I eventually came to my senses.  The more I got to know God, the more I saw His love manifested through my parents and my love for them also grew.

But the elder brother; I thought I wouldn’t be able to relate with him at all.  And then I reflected back to times when I felt entitled because I have been doing everything right spiritually.  I felt like I should be rewarded and everything in life should go smoothly but trouble still struck me.  But when I just took a moment to look around and see all that the Lord has blessed me wit,; there is really no reason to question God’s generous love for me.  The older brother was blessed to be in the father’s presence and enjoyed the byproducts of it.

We as Christians can enjoy and thrive in the peace, joy, love and many other incentives as we serve Him.  And we should take to heart the fact that we have a forgiving Father who is always on the lookout to embrace us even before we reach Him. As the Father’s children, let’s enjoy being in His presence and partake in embracing any prodigals out there.

 

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)