Luke 15:11-32 – “Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.  12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.  13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.  14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.  15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.  16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”‘

 20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.  21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.  23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

 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 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.  27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’

 28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.  29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat that I might make merry with my friends.  30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.  32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.'”  NKJV

I could leave off my comments and just post this passage and the impact would be incredibly positive for the Kingdom of God but I sense the Holy Spirit desires that I make some comments.  I want to draw out of this entire story the attitude of the older brother – No Billy Goat for a Barbeque or Woe is Me is an attitude possessed by far too many in the world of Christendom.

The beautiful story of a prodigal who had ‘wasted his inheritance’ on wantonness and waste returning home not asking to be restored to full sharing with his brother but to be received back as one of the hired servants is not the focus today.  The older brother had remained faithful and loyal to his father and the family enterprise.  He had suppressed any desire he had for sowing his wild oats and labored diligently.  Now, his brother returns from a life of debauchery and waste and his father treated him like royalty.  The older brother is insulted, offended, and angry.  Most of us would be as well, so before we criticize him we might want to honestly look in the mirror that reflects our heart.  He goes off and pouts.  Many are the times I have gone to a church member who took offense at something and felt their faithfulness unappreciated when someone who had been anything but was received back into the church fold. I cannot count the number of times I’ve ministered to someone who was overcome with anger at God because someone who had been a prodigal was received back into God’s graces and they felt slighted.

The attitude of the older brother blinds as to what God offers and what is available.  Consider what the father told this distraught son.  He said, “Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours…”  Did you hear that?  You are always with me, and ALL THAT I HAVE IS YOURS…His inheritance was his all along and he could have had the BBQ anytime he wanted but he had apparently not asked for it or demonstrated a desire for it UNTIL the wayward son comes home.  IT IS YOURS!  Your brother took his part and squandered it but what is left belongs to you.  It was right that we rejoice over one that was dead but is alive again, and was lost but has been found.  Forgiveness is a powerful part of faith and we must ever guard against resentment, bitterness, and self-centeredness.  One of the most powerful messages of the Bible is Reconciliation.  If we allow them to take root we will miss what God has for us and fail to realize the Abundant Life He has for us.

             God bless you on this beautiful day!