Prodigal Or Judgmental

Hymns: You Raise Me Up (Joshua 5); Forgiven (Psalm 32); We Are Standing on Holy Ground (2 Corinthians 5); Father I Have Sinned (the Prodigal Son Song).

Readings: Joshua 5:9-12; Psalm 32; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Prelude: Imagine someone who wasted his inheritance on wild living, went broke, was homeless, smelled like a pig and just wanted to come home? Purpose: Let’s look at the prodigal son. Plan: Let’s examine Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32.

Wasted

“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.” (Luke 15:11b-13 NKJV)

The older son pictures those who have always attended church and never really gotten into serious trouble or strayed too far from God. The younger son pictures all the rest who have wandered far from God and gotten their lives in a real spiritual and financial mess.

A lazy and greedy second child bled his father dry, taking what he could of his inheritance before his father’s death. In our society as well as theirs that would be presumptuous. But, the father divided the inheritance between them before his death. Some in our society have done this. Thus, both children received their inheritance.

Bankrupt

“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. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.” (Luke 15:14-16 NKJV)

A son squandered his inheritance in a far, distant country. Unlike the Jews, whose law required them to give to the poor, few other nations did, and there no one gave him anything. He was in a desperate situation on the edge of death.

Repentant Son

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and 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.” (Luke 15:17-20a NKJV)

We may want to be independent, but eventually realize how much we need each other. We may burn bridges, offend others, and cut off contact. We may never be able to repair some of our damaged relationships in this life, but we can always repair our damaged relationship with God.

The prodigal son came to a better mind. Repentance is a change of mind and involves action: turning FROM sin and TO the Father. So, he acted and made the difficult journey home in shame.

Would his father turn his back and disown him? Would the father demand a probation period? Would he accuse the wasteful son of embarrassing the family name? How do we treat those who are taking cautious, awkward steps out of the stench of life's tragically bad decisions, back to God?

Loving 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.” (Luke 15:20-22 NKJV)

We have all distanced ourselves from God at times. We have turned our back on him and put heaven to shame. Yet, all that is forgotten in an instant when we make any effort to return. Even while the son was a long way off, his return brought great joy to his father.

Feast

“And bring the 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.” (Luke 15:23-24 NKJV)

If we are still a long way off, let’s begin making just a few steps in return to God. God is already running to greet us with great joy. The son’s confession was interrupted by his father’s joy. As we begin to pray again, God forgives before we even finish.

Angry Brother

“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.’” (Luke 15:25-27 NKJV)