Pride And Prejudice

Legend holds that in 1884 a young man died, and after the funeral his grieving parents decided to establish a memorial to him. With that in mind they met with Charles Eliot, president of Harvard University. Eliot received the unpretentious couple into his office and asked what he could do. After they expressed their desire to fund a memorial, Eliot impatiently said, "Perhaps you have in mind a scholarship."

"We were thinking of something more substantial than that...perhaps a building," the woman replied. In a patronizing tone, Eliot brushed the idea aside as being too expensive. After all, this was HARVARD UNIVERSITY! The couple departed. The next year, Eliot learned that this unassuming couple had gone elsewhere and established a $26 million memorial named Leland Stanford Junior College, better known today as Stanford University! A lesson of pride or prejudice that constrains one’s joy.

I. Pride and Prejudice: Defined

A. Pride (def.) a lofty and often arrogant assumption of superiority in some respect;

B. Prejudice (def.) preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience

C. Simply stated, pride is being caught-up in me; prejudice is being hung-up on them. Both attitudes constrain the joy God plans for us, and leads to a deeper relationship with Him. Today we meet two sons who exemplify these traits:

1. One swallows his PRIDE and returns to his father, after failing to find the joy he imagined.

2. The other forfeits his joy because of PREJUDICE

[God loves His children—even the rebellious ones. God wants nothing to constrain the joy we have in Him.]

II. Jesus is a wonderful storyteller. He reveals abiding truth in simple stories (parables) that allow listeners to understand. One of these parables is most familiar; it is the story of a prodigal son (OYBT Lk. 15)

A. Every parable of Jesus has a common thread: the presence of the disciples. The same is true of Jesus’ miracles. The disciples are always there to witness His extraordinary events and teachings.

B. It’s possible that the miracles and parables are to the benefit the disciples as much (or more) than others around them.

C. Jesus knows His disciples well; the closeness they share with Him may lead the to pass judgment on those outside the “circle”.

D. Self-serving hypocrites will not advance the gospel—humble servants will. Jesus grants His joy to all those who yield their lives to Him. He calls average men to “follow me”, assuring the spread of the gospel without regard to social or religious status, without PRIDE OR PREJUDICE. After all, who were these guys? (unimpressive resumes)

III. Pride and Prejudice: Applied (15:11-32)

A. PRIDE keeps joy out of reach (11-20a). It leads one son to leave home. He is caught-up in himself with no regard for others; give me my inheritance and let me seek my fortune. Pride keeps many from Jesus. What must —I give up—will others think—will I lose “status”?

1. Before long the young son runs into trouble, out of money, and takes a job feeding pigs.

2. When a man with money meets a man with experience, the man with the experience ends up with the money; the man with the money ends up with the experience. Maybe that occurred?

3. Here’s a great verse (17): “when he had come to himself” (KJV) OR “when he had come to his senses” (NIV) he decided to go home to his father; expecting to be the least of the least in his father’s house. Just like us…when we are out of options, we come home

[God loves His children—even the rebellious ones. God wants nothing to constrain the joy we have in Him.]

B. A Son is Restored (20b-24)

1. To get back into the house he must reconcile with his father. His father graciously accepts him, treats him like royalty. He rejoices in the son’s return: we see the connection between repentance and forgiveness. He is back in his father’s grace and love.

2. Then there’s the other brother…

C. PREJUDICE constrains that brother’s joy (25-32)

1. I’VE EARNED IT, I’M WORTH IT and I’M ANGRY

a. His attitude constrains his JOY; he forgets that his father showed him mercy, too.

b. The mercy you show to those who hurt your feelings, disrupt your comfort or simply make you angry must reflect the mercy God shows to you (Lk. 11:4).

c. Are you quick to forgive or do you, like the older son, harbor unhealthy feelings?

A mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice and justice demanded death. "But I don't ask for justice," the mother explained. "I plead for mercy." "But your son does not deserve mercy," Napoleon replied. "Sir," the woman cried, "it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for."