How to Build Stronger Relationships
TEXT: Luke 15:11-32
“Then He said: ‘A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.’’ And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring a fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots; you killed the fatted calf for him.’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”
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 son who asks for his share of the money and then takes off. 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?
1. God is concerned about your relationship with yourself.
I like in the story of the prodical 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.
All of us need to come to ourselves. We need to figure out where we are.
In the story of the fall of man Adam has sinned. It’s interesting that when God comes looking for Adam He asks the question: "Adam, where are you?" Do you think that God did not know? Do you think that Adam had hidden himself so well that God could not find him?
Or was God asking Adam to do some self assesment? Where are you - really?
Let me ask you - where are you really? Is there guilt? Is there bitterness? Is there shame? Is there unconfessed sin? Do you really think you can hide it from God? Come to yourself - do a self evaluation - where are you?
2. God is concerned about your relationship with Him.
He doesn’t care about how far you’ve gone. He doesn’t care about what a mess you made with you life. He doesn’t even care how bad you smell. He cares about the relationship that you have with him.
John 3:16 tells us of God’s love.
“For God so loved the world that He gave his only son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish – but have everlasting life.”
Matthew 18:11 tells us of Christ’s purpose.
“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.”
The Father is always Persistent. He is always ready to take us back.
There is a painting of the prodigal son by the 17th century Spanish artist Murillo. I looked it up on the internet this past to look at the details. In the painting you can immediately find the father and the prodigal son. The prodigal son is thin and filthy. His hands are clasped in prayer and he has a hopeful look on his face as if he is wondering, “Will my father take me back? Will my father let me be a servant in his house?” The father is leaning over and embracing his son. The father seems oblivious to the dirt and the smell.
Beside the father, two servants are bringing a tray with a fine robe and sandals for the son. Another servant is holding a ring. To the left a young servant is leading the fattened calf, and a workman has an axe ready to kill the calf so the feast can begin.
It’s a joyous scene – except for one face. There standing in the shadows Murillo painted the older brother. There is an unmistakable resemblance between the two sons. The older son seems to have a smirk on his face. In his eyes and on his lips you can see the resentment and sarcasm. The younger son is on his knees looking up at the father, the father is leaning over his lost son, but the older brother is the highest head in the painting. The older brother seems to be looking down on all the activity. Looking down not just from his vantage point – but looking down in disgust.
3. God is concerned about your relationship with your family.
You don’t have to leave home to be lost. The older brother was just as lost as the younger.
After working in the fields all day, the older brother arrives home only to hear the Karaoke music shaking the rafters. When he learns that a party is going on because his younger brother has returned home and becomes angry. Verse 28 literally means he flew into a rage. He becomes the pouting son. He refuses to go into the celebration. He points out the sins of the prodigal son – the wasting of money and loose living. But we all know there are other sins besides these two. What about sins like jealousy, pride, and resentment? Sure they are easier to hide – but they are just as devastating. The Pouting son had been keeping the rules. He had been faithful. Shouldn’t there be a celebration for him too? Shouldn’t someone notice his contributions? Shouldn’t someone pay attention to his needs? Shouldn’t someone throw him a party too?
For a long time I missed what the father was really saying in verse 32. But as I studied the text, I saw it. What the father was actually saying was “Son, you and I must celebrate.” The verb is an imperative. He was saying, “It’s not your younger brothers party, it’s MY party. I’m the one who’s celebrating because my son was dead and he’s alive. So you MUST celebrate with me. Not for your brother’s sake, but for MY sake.” The party was not for the Prodigal Son it was for the Persistent Father. God is concerned about your relationship with Him. He wants us to celebrate with him.
You know what Sunday morning is not about us. It’s not about a fashion show or a social gathering. The Father is celebrating because His children have come home. They have come into His presence to worship Him – and He is pleased. You must celebrate with ME.
Did you know that in Luke chapter 15 there are actually three celebrations. There is the celebration of the shepherd who finds his lost sheep. There is the celebration of the women who finds her lost coin. And there is the celebration of the father who finds his lost son. Does the Pouting Son come to celebrate with the father? To tell you the truth – I don’t know. I do know that Jesus left this story open-ended on purpose. You see – it’s up to you what you do. God is concerned about your relationship with Him. What are you going do – are you going to allow the relationship to be restored or are you going stomp off?
