The Path Of A Prodigal

B. Look At This Man’s Waste Of His Substance.

Luke 15: 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.”

NOTE: [1] The younger son stuck around only as long as it took to turn his share of the inheritance into spending money. The words “gathered all together” basically mean that he “…put all his resources into one lump sum…” (Kenneth S. Wuest, The New Testament, An Expanded Translation, published by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan; pg. 177).

[2] The sin nature wants what it craves; and this young man, with money in his pockets, went off to the far country and indulged his wicked desires. Thomas Huxley once said, “A man’s worst difficulties begin when he is able to do just as he likes” (Warren W. Wiersbe, Warren Wiersbe’s “Be” Series: Old & New Testaments, as found in QuickVerse, A Division Of Findex.Com, Inc., Omaha, Nebraska). Such became the case with this man.

[3] Notice that verse 13 tells us that this man “wasted” his substance, which means to, “scatter right and left” (Alvah Hovey, D.D., LL.D., Editor, An American Commentary On The New Testament, published by American Baptist Publication Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Commentary On The Gospel Of Luke, pg. 242).

[4] He wasted all of his substance on “riotous living,” the Bible says. The idea here is that of “wild living” (John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, Editors, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, published by Victor Books, Wheaton, Illinois; pg. 245). This man was throwing his life away, by feeding his flesh on its baser appetites. His older brother probably described the situation pretty well when he complained to his father: “But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf” (Luke 15: 30). Apart from Christ, every life is ultimately a wasted life.

II. A DESPERATION FOUND IN THE FAMINE

A. He Experienced Humiliation.

Luke 15: 14 “And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

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.”

NOTE: [1] Satan has duped a lot of people into thinking that the “good life” will bring them satisfaction. But as Jesus said, “…He [Satan] is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8: 44b). As the prodigal son could tell you, once the money runs out, the music stops, and the famine is in full swing in your life, it is anything but satisfying. This man wasted his life on sin, and found himself in both physical and spiritual want. Sin always produces spiritual famine in the soul of men and women.

Sin promises freedom, but it only brings slavery (John 8: 34); it promises success, but brings failure; it promises life, but “the wages of sin is death” (Rom.6: 23). The boy thought he would “find himself,” but he only lost himself! When God is left out of our lives, enjoyment becomes enslavement.