Every parent wants the best for their children. They have dreams and expectations that they hope their child would grow and fulfil. They envisaged their child growing up to be someone who would make a difference in this world, in a positive way. Their love for the child is not based on what the child can do for them but the mere fact that he/she was born. In him lies the reflection of their love. The birth of a child is one of the greatest gifts that God has given to humanity.
In Luke 15:11–12 (KJV 1900) Jesus told a story of a parent who had two sons.
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
The individuals were not given names, but the story resonates with us today. This young man wanted his inheritance. He figured he could do better that the father. It is better to take it now than for the father to use it all up and in the end, he would have nothing. Besides why should he have to wait until the father is deceased, who knows when that will be anyway.
The young man echoed the impatience of many individuals. He had no time to wait.
Everything must be given now!
Done now!
He had no consideration for the for his papa who had brought him up through the years.
Fed him.
Clothed him,
Provided for him.
All this was taken for granted as something he had a duty to do.
What about you?
Have you considered the love your parents have for you?
Have you considered the love your children have for you?
Your husband?
Your Wife?
Your girlfriend?
Your boyfriend?
the sacrifices made
the Opportunities lost
the Time invested on your behalf:?
There are two ways you can view what is done on your behalf.
Either it is done out of love or because of some other reason.
If we view the favour that is shown us as being done out of duty then our perspective of the giver is different than if we consider that it was done because the person loves us.
How we end the statement:
My wife cooks for me because ….
My husband brings me gifts because …
My child obeys me because …
My parents provide for me because …
How we complete each sentence says much about our relationship with that person.
We must be able to confess with our lips-
My parents love me,
My Children love me
My girlfriend loves me
My boyfriend loves me.
If we cannot acknowledge the love others have for us. How can we acknowledge the love God has for us.
The God who gives
The sunshine
The rain
The ability to walk
To talk
To reason, to think, to create.
Do We figure that these are all a given,
We are entitled to them?
Do we take them for granted as if God had a duty to provide us with them?
Or do we recognize them as gifts of love!
The young man in our story never give thought to the love the father had bestowed upon him: He took it all for granted. Note that Jesus is taking his time to paint a picture of the character of the young man:
The story continues :
Luke 15:13–14 (KJV 1900)
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
He organized himself, and as soon as he could he left from his father’s presence. He could not live the life he wanted with his father around. He decided to go into a distant country where he did not have to answer to the father. He did not have to look into his father’s eyes and account for his behaviour. The bible says that he wasted his substance in riotous living.
Oh yea, He partied, he drank, he forgot about the Sabbath and violated its precepts. He was enjoying himself.
The women loved him,
His pals used him and
He immersed in it all.
The news was out, a country boy had come to town with money to spend. All types of people joined themselves to him. He was getting all the attention his soul desired. As far he was concerned, he was a happy man. This was the life!
How are about you?
Have you moved away from God to live your life?
Are you tired of Christian constraints?
Do you want the so call freedom that the world offers?
Are you running from the presence of the LORD?
Can you look him in the eye at the end of the day?
The pleasures of this world are only for a season. The illusion of happiness soon fades as the reality of life sinks in.
Isaiah 5:11–12 (KJV 1900)
11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; That continue until night, till wine inflame them!
12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe,
And wine, are in their feasts: But they regard not the work of the Lord,
Neither consider the operation of his hands.
Jesus, himself states that concern over these things chokes the word so that the person becomes unfruitful in spiritual things:
Luke 8:14 (KJV 1900)
14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
This young man was totally choked up. He had ceased bearing fruit if ever he did. He did not consider or give thought to his father or to God!!
He replaced his family with his others and give them a good time. But life has a way of changing and it did for him. A famine came upon the land and the substance he had was all spent. He was left alone to fend for himself.
What do you do when everything is gone?
When nothing is left?
When it is just you?
What do you do?
This lad became desperate;
Luke 15: 15– 19 (KJV 1900)
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
He became so desperate that he did something that he never believed his Jewish heart would have sunk to. He agreed to feed the pigs.
It is amazing where life takes you!
When the enemy has you in his grasp, he will take you to the pigs.
He will bring you down lower than you have ever been!
Lower than you ever imagine you could be!
He will make you ashamed of yourself
Too ashamed to look yourself in the mirror!
In life problems will come, difficulties will arise, challenges will surface.
But the good news is that you do not have to face them alone. And that’s a big difference: Ask—
Joshua
Moses
Peter or “John and they will tell you. I can testify to that! Many here can tell you. Its better to face your problems with Jesus Christ than to face them alone.
• Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
• Psalm 34:10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
• Luke 12:27–28 (KJV 1900)
• 27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
This young man reflected on his situation and came up a with seven step plan to escape his situation; His plan was totally based on how his father treated his servants, no thought was given as to how he treated his son.
1. He will get up
2. He will go to his father
3. He will say to him
i. I have sin against heaven
ii. And before thee
iii. I am no more worthy to be called thy son
iv. Make me a hired servant
He had everything down pact even up to what punishment he should receive.
He got up and went about to execute his plan
Luke 15: 20–24 (KJV 1900)
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
The father saw his son from a distance, he did not have to see his face, he knew his gait, how he walked. Like a man possessed, he shouted for his servants to prepare the fatted calf and prepare to celebrate. He flew down the road like a madman and embraced his son. His son sought to complete his plan by repeating what he had rehearsed but the father was oblivious to such mouthing. He demanded that a ring be placed on his hand and shoes on his feet and he called for a celebration because he said “this my son was dead and is alive again, he was lost, and is found.”
No one can understand the love a father has for his son. The other son did not understand, the servants could not understand but a father can!
If a earthly father could love such a son, so much, that after all that his son had done to him he could accept him back, how much more could the Heavenly father accept a repentant sinner and celebrate over his/her acceptance into the kingdom.
What will you do with the father’s love today?
God has expressed his love for us in sending his son to die for sins. Are we to neglect such a great gift. Should we continue to live in a far country? It is time to come home. The greatest gift you can give to yourself in this season, and any other, is to accept the gift of salvation.
You should be able to say, at the end of the day, like Paul, like myself:
Romans 8:38–39 (KJV 1900)
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord
