How To Have Your Relationships In Order Series

How To Have Your Relationships In Order

TEXT: Luke 15:11-32

Let us begin this morning by reading our text. It is found in the gospel of Luke chapter fifteen:

And He said, "A man had two sons. "The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.' So he divided his wealth between them. "And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. "Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. "So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. "And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. "But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! ~'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men."' "So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' "But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate. "Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. "And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. "And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.' "But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. "But he answered and said to his father, 'Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.' "And he said to him, 'Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. ~'But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.'" Luke 15:11-32 (NASB)

The story has three main characters in it. You know who they are.

The Prodigal Son.

The Pouting Son.

The Persistent Father.

You know the story. The youngest son asks for his share of the money and then takes off. He goes out and has a good time until the money is spent. He ends up feeding pigs. He returns home only to find his father waiting for him. But do you know what the story is really about? The story is about three things. It's about how:

1. God is concerned about your relationship with YOURSELF

2. God is concerned about your relationship with OTHERS

3. God is concerned about your relationship with HIM

Let's look at the first point:

1. God is concerned about your relationship with YOURSELF

Look at verse seventeen again. It says:

"But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! Luke 15:17 (NASB)

The King James says:

"When he came to himself..." Luke 15:17 (KJV)

I like in the story of the prodigal son that he comes to the point in his life where he comes to himself. He figures it out. He is living in a pigpen when he could be living in his father’s house.

Here is a fact folks: All of us need to come to ourselves. We need to figure out where we are.