Introduction

Welcome, dear brothers and sisters, to this blessed gathering where we come together in unity and love to share in the wisdom of God's word. It warms my heart to see each of you here today, ready to receive, ready to grow, and ready to be transformed by the life-changing power of the Gospel.

In the spirit of our shared desire to grow in wisdom and understanding, today we will be focusing our hearts and minds on the profound parable of the Prodigal Son, as told by our Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 15, verses 11 to 32.

This parable, rich with lessons and insights, will be our guide as we discuss three main points: Prudent Use of Resources, Picking the Right Companions, and Promptness in Righteousness.

In the words of the great Christian theologian, J.I. Packer, "The Christian's life in all its aspects - intellectual and ethical, devotional and relational, upsurging in worship and outgoing in witness - is supernatural; only the Spirit can initiate and sustain it. So apart from him, not only will there be no lively believers and no lively congregations, there will be no believers and no congregations at all."

Let's bow our heads in prayer as we ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in our discussion today. Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your word, which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. We pray for your Holy Spirit to illuminate our hearts and minds as we delve into this parable, that we may glean the wisdom you have for us. Help us to apply these truths in our daily lives for your glory. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Prudent Use of Resources

In the parable, we see the younger son asking for his share of the inheritance. He takes what he's given and goes off to a distant land, where he squanders it all on reckless living. This is a clear example of imprudent use of resources. He took what he had, a gift from his father, and wasted it. He didn't invest it or use it wisely. Instead, he used it all up in a short amount of time, leaving him with nothing when a famine hit the land.

The first aspect we can draw from this is the importance of valuing what we have. The younger son didn't appreciate the value of what he had. He saw it as something to be used up quickly, not realizing the long-term consequences of his actions. This is a common mistake many of us make. We take for granted the resources we have, whether it's money, time, or talents, and we use them recklessly without considering the future.

Next is the importance of planning and foresight. The younger son didn't plan for the future. He didn't consider what would happen if he ran out of money. He didn't prepare for a time of need. This lack of planning left him in a desperate situation when a famine hit the land. He was left with no resources, forced to take a job feeding pigs, and longing to eat the pods he was feeding them.

The third aspect is the importance of self-control and discipline. The younger son was impulsive. He wanted to enjoy life and have fun, and he didn't want to wait. This lack of self-control led him to spend all his money on reckless living. He didn't have the discipline to save or invest his money. He didn't have the self-control to resist the temptations that came his way.

Finally is learning from our mistakes. The younger son eventually realized his mistake. He came to his senses and decided to return to his father. He recognized that he had sinned and was no longer worthy to be called his son. This realization led him to repent and seek his father's forgiveness.

In our lives, we are often like the younger son. We are given resources by our Heavenly Father - our time, our talents, our finances - and we are called to use them prudently. We are called to value what we have, to plan for the future, to exercise self-control and discipline, and to learn from our mistakes. We are called to be good stewards of the resources God has entrusted to us.

Application questions. So, let's consider these aspects in our own lives. Are we valuing the resources God has given us? Are we planning for the future? Are we exercising self-control and discipline? Are we learning from our mistakes? Let's reflect on these questions and seek God's guidance in how we can better use the resources He has entrusted to us.

Picking the Right Companions

As we continue to reflect on the parable of the Prodigal Son, let's consider the company he kept during his time in the far country ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO