(I have taken most thoughts in this sermon from Rodney J. Buchanan’s ’The Father’s House’, July 7, 2002, Mulberry St. UMC, Mt. Vernon, OH.)
Let’s take a look at this interesting story again. Looking at the three characters in this story, we can learn something about ourselves and our heavenly Father.
First, let’s look at the father in the story. He represents God, our heavenly Father. The Father gives us the freedom to do what we like. He is compassionate but not controlling. The father does not stop the son from taking advantage of him. He does not lecture him or scold him. He does not try to keep him from leaving home, nor do anything that would harm the young man’s life. He allows the boy to do what he wants do.
When he asks for the estate to be settled before the father’s death — a great insult in that Jewish culture — the father says nothing. He gives him what would have eventually come to him in the estate.
God gives us such a freedom in life. You can choose to live with Him or go on your own way, to love Him or to love yourself more. Adam and Eve were given the same freedom. God does not step in and stop you or others from doing what is wrong.
We hear people say, “Why doesn’t God do something about the evil in the world? Why doesn’t he stop people from hurting other people or doing evil things?” But God has given us the awesome gift of free will. If He interfered in any way, it would no longer be free will. And we would no longer be human but puppets.
Sometimes, we would like God to be more controlling when it comes to other people. We would like Him to get people to do the right things and stop them from doing wrong things. But when we want to do something we like, we don’t want anyone, including God, to control us. We want freedom.
The Father knows that the moment He forces us to do something, it won’t be from a willing heart and therefore it means nothing. If obedience is something that happens because we are forced, then it is pointless. If we do God’s will willingly from the heart, this gives Him great pleasure. He is happy.
The father in this story did not want his son to stay home if the son did not want to stay. He did not want him to stay out of some kind of obligation. And the father certainly did not want his son to be there just waiting for him to die so that he could get his hands on the inheritance. So he let him go.
The father did not give in out of weakness. He was not being a permissive parent. He was giving the son what the son wanted with the hope that someday he would learn that it was a bad choice. The son has to learn some things on his own. Only if he saw the emptiness of living away from the father, would he want to return to the father willingly. Only if he experienced what it was like to be away from the father’s love, then would he long to return to that love.
We read the whole story and we can see that the boy is really foolish. But when you are in the middle of that situation, it is not so easy to see. The world looks so appealing, and people seem so free and having such a good time. We think that the world can give us meaning and purpose in life. But we are wrong. Away from the father, we are lost without a guide, we are exposed to harm without any protection. That was what the young son found out.
In the story, the father does not go to the distant country in search of his son. He will not rescue him against his will. He will let him go until he has discovered for himself that the world is not the great and wonderful place it seemed to be. But his door is always open, and he is longing for the son’s return.
He did not let him go because he did not care. It is obvious that he loves his son and he has been looking out for him. Every day he checks the horizon for some sign that his son is on his way back home. And when his son’s silhouette finally does appear in the distance, the father recognizes it immediately and takes off running.
He can hardly wait to throw his arms around him. There is not the slightest hint of a lecture or ridicule. There is no guilt-trip. Neither is there talk of the pain caused or the debt owed. There is only one expression - JOY. There was only joy that the son has returned home out of his own free will.
That, my dear brothers and sisters, is the heart of our heavenly Father. Appreciate Him. Let us come to Him with a cheerful heart.
Let’s look at the young man. We find his behaviour common today. A child, a teenager or youth, has parents who care for them but they cannot wait to break free and be on their own. Just a couple of days ago we see two young girls leaving home. They wanted freedom and fun. Their parents want the best for them, but they see their lives as restricted and controlled. The world looks really exciting and they are tired of hearing their father or mother talking about the dangers and the wrongness of what is going on in the world.
But when they leave, they realise after some time that the world isn’t that interesting. And they needed to come home. They need their parents.
It is interesting that this young man thought he was on his own. He said, “Give me MY share of the estate.” (v.12) It’s like telling the father, “It’s my life and my money.” But in actual fact, it was not his wealth. He was living off his father’s resources the whole time. He would have had to work a lifetime to get that much money. He was squandering his inheritance and throwing away that which had been intended to provide him with a future. He was not really on his own at all. Everything he was doing was made possible by his father. All were paid for out of his father’s pocket.
Isn’t that true for us today? We are using the resources our heavenly Father has given us. But very often we felt that they are our own. We say, “It’s my life and my money.” The Bible says in 1 Cor 4:7 “For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”
Are you going to squander the Father’s resources the way this young man did? God has given you a life, a good brain, freedom, prosperity, health, a good home… What have you done with the Father’s gifts? Have you squandered his resources for yourself, as if they are all your own? Or did you use them in the way the Father intended? Bro/sis, let us serve Him with all that He has given us. Don’t waste it away.
The worst part of this young man’s life is not that he went away to the far country and spent the money in sinful living. The worst part of this young man’s life is that he showed no appreciation for his father. He never developed a relationship with his father. If he had, he would never have left home. He does not understand his father’s heart. He does not know how much his father loves him or miss him. He never figured out that what was available to him at home was much better than all that he can get out there in the world. He would not believe that his father wanted the best for him and had great plans for him.
He nearly ruined his life, and would have if he had not “come to his senses.” (v.17) He finally realised, that he has been very foolish and that he has done wrong. He decided to go back to his father and say: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.” (v.18)
Have we come to this stage in life, dear friends, of realising that staying away from God our heavenly Father is both foolish and sinful? If you realise it today, then you’re ready to go back home. Our heavenly Father is waiting for you. You will be blessed when you acknowledge you’re a sinner and accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour. The Father has already prepared a Saviour for you. Put your trust in Him and receive His forgiveness. And you will enter into heaven and spend your eternity with Him.
The story ends with one more character – the elder son.
He was the good boy. He never left home. When his father asked him to do something, he did it. He never rebelled or ran away. He looked down at his errant brother. He had full expectations of being the head of the estate and inheriting everything that was left. He was glad that his younger brother was gone. It would be easier now. He had been the obedient son and he deserved all this. He had earned it.
There was only one problem. He shared a critical flaw with his younger brother - he never actually got to know his father. He did not really have a loving relationship with him. He was dutiful and faithful. He worked hard and was dependable. But he did what he did because it made him feel proud of his own accomplishments, not because of a love for the father.
When the father showed that he still cares for his wayward brother, he became angry and bitter. He saw it as the ultimate injustice. He accused his father for being so unfair and for showing favouritism. He was the one who deserved a party — not this dirty and smelly brother.
He didn’t understand that it was not about who had been good or bad, it was about who life and death – the father says “this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” (v.24) It was not a matter of who was deserving, it was about who was in need.
But the older brother’s concern was about justice. He never understood that his father’s concern was about grace. Someone who was dead has found life, and it is fitting that we rejoice. Jesus said this before He started telling this story (Luke 15:10): “…I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Our Father’s concern is to help us understand His love and receive His grace. This was the reason why Jesus tells this story. Verse 1-2 tells us it was to show His listeners - particularly the Pharisees and teachers of the law (15:2) - that it is not a question of whether we deserve it or not - because the truth is that none of us do - we all need God’s forgiveness and His grace.
Bro/sis, we are here not because we deserved it. Not because we are moral and decent human beings who obey the laws of the land. We are in His house because of His grace. God is love, and the important lesson He wants us to learn is to love. It is in loving that we are most like Him. Jesus says in Mark 12:30 that the greatest commandment is this: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart… and the second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Like the younger son, we deserve to be a servant. After all, the son had spent all his inheritance and he didn’t deserve anything else. He should live the rest of his life as a hired servant, just as he said. But the father puts a ring on his finger and a special robe on his back. He throws a party. The father has no intention of making him a slave. It has never been God’s intention to make us His slaves. We are His children, His beloved children.
The elder brother did not come in to the party. He refused to be reconciled to his brother or his father. This is what happened in history – the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, whom Jesus was teaching through this story – felt that they deserve God’s favour because of their obedience, because of their moral deeds, and thus they rejected God’s grace. They became bitter against God their Father, and hated Jesus for loving sinners and attending parties in their homes. They rejected Him and thus remained outside His house. There was no joy in their hearts, only bitterness.
Conclusion:
• Bro/sis, let us appreciate the Father’s love for us. Be always grateful for His grace.
• Don’t waste our lives away. Treasure all that God has given us and use it to serve Him.
• Love Him and love one another. It is in loving that we are most like Him.
Dear friends, we are people with a home – our eternal destiny is the Father’s home in heaven. Not the grave on earth, but the home in heaven. Put your trust in Jesus Christ today. God our Father has only prepared one Saviour, and that’s Jesus. Be reconciled to God, and as His children, the Father’s house will be our home, our eternal home.
