(Part 1)
“To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”-Luke 15:11-19 (ESV)
Probably most of us have either have been ourselves or are praying for a prodigal. Defining a prodigal can take on a variety of meanings. It can range from a person that behaves recklessly, one that squanders their life and livelihood in carnal living, or is simply a person who is pursuing their own self-interests apart from God.
Often, when a prodigal leaves it is accompanied by some level of emotional aftermath. People are often left hurt, disillusioned and shocked by their exit. The lifestyle and choices that follow often cause tremendous angst and dismay. Parents, friends and family are left wondering what they may have done to push them away.
No doubt, the prodigal son’s brother was still carrying some unresolved hurt. You can hear it in his tone of voice in Luke 15:30:
“But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’”
And, although we don’t see it, it would be hard to believe that the father didn’t wrestle with some pain himself at his son’s exit. I was kind of surprised, as I read the passage again, that there was virtually no push back from the father regarding the younger son’s demands:
“The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.”-Luke 15:12
That is not to say that there wasn’t more discussion than what we see recorded here, but I couldn’t help to think about this father and son’s relationship as the son was packing his bags to leave. Perhaps the father’s actions were intentional; knowing that how things ended in that moment could have a huge impact on their future relationship. Is it possible we are seeing a deeper truth here:
How you love a prodigal as they go, helps pave the road for their return.
We don’t see the father demean, condemn, scold or mock the young man. The father did not create any unnecessary obstacles between he and his son. He didn’t shout… “You walk out that door, don’t bother ever coming back.” Mind you, he also didn’t chase the young man down and try to convince him otherwise or bail him out when things got tight. He did, however, keep the door for reconciliation open and he went about the work of preparing himself for his son’s return.
Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church
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