Sometimes people’s
reaction to the same news that makes us so happy can be just the opposite. This
happens in the case of the older brother of the prodigal son. The Father wants his
youngest to be reconciled with the whole community – especially within the family.
It doesn’t turn out that way.
We hear his
reaction in The Parable of the Older Son in Luke 15:25-31: 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he
came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one
of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your
brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and
refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered
his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never
disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could
celebrate with my friends. 30 But when
this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home,
you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you
are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to
celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive
again; he was lost and is found.’”
Did you notice
that the father “went out and pleaded with him” to join in this happy occasion.
The brother was so “Me” oriented that he could not see past his own needs and greed.
Sadly this still exists today. Instead of focusing on ourselves so much – what would
happen if we focused on those who are lost and need to be restored to God through
Jesus?
I think we’d have
revival. Amen?
Be wise today
and always – be about God’s plan.
