Gospel
The prodigal son. We all know the story, but has anyone ever talked about his brother? I have not heard it. The brother has an even more important lesson to teach.
As the church has taught, the prodigal son represents us as individuals who have run away from God to live our lives as we see fit. And as the prodigal soon realized, he wasted all of his inheritance and wealth very quickly living life his way without God's guidance.
His father represents God, who allows him to do things his own way even though he knows he will be hurt. The father is patiently waiting and looking each day for his son to return. The day finally comes when the son decides to come home, empty and ashamed. His father sees him far off in the distance and runs to greet and welcome him home. He treats his son like a king and gives a big feast for him.
Now, for the lesson of his brother. The brother represents the church! When he realized the big celebration was for his brother returning home, he became jealous and angry. He said to his father, "Why the big celebration, he wasted everything you gave him?! I have been here all the time and you never gave any feast for me and my friends!" Here it is...listen to what the father says to him, "This son was lost, but he has come home. You have been here the whole time, and everything I have is yours."
The church has been misled, waiting and expecting God to do everything for them. But like the father said, "Everything I have is yours. Use it!"
God has already given us everything. The Lord said while on the cross, "It is finished." He has given us His Power and Ability. He is waiting for us to use it to do His will. The Master said, "Whosoever believes in Me, the works that I do, they shall do also." Let's begin to do the things He has empowered us to do.
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True. The elder brother seems to lack compassion. Sometimes, the church does not demonstrate the compassion of JESUS, but rather judgement. I think all of us know what the WORD says about that. Good article. Thanks for sharing. God BLESS YOU.
You have some interesting thoughts. Yes, the older brother can definitely teach us a lesson. I'd always thought "prodigal" meant something like "one who returns" and was surprised to read in the dicitonary that it means "reckless wastefullness". Thanks for this message.
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