Back in September, I studied in the book of Luke, and eventually, of course, I made it back to Luke 15. The prodigal son.
Now, before you assume you know what I'm going talk about, hold on.
The prodigal son is a beautiful story, but his story isn't the one I want to highlight today. I'm going to talk about the other brother.
To sum up the story to this point, the prodigal son wants his inheritance early, and he takes it and leaves to go live the life he wants to live. As you could've guessed, he goes and lives a sinful lifestyle. He lives according to the world's standards, not his father's. Before long, he runs out of money and is so hungry that he's jealous of what the pigs have to eat. He decides to go back to his father and be a servant, but his father runs to meet him and throws a party to celebrate his son's return.
Amazing story, right?
Well, the prodigal son's brother sure didn't think so. Luke 15:28 says this, "But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him."
He refused to even go in the party! But, why?
Let's find out: "but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’"
The older brother was so focused his own righteousness and his own obedience that he missed out on that miracle of his younger brother's return.
See, when we choose comparison, we miss out on the celebration that our Father has planned.
When you choose to be unhappy with how God has blessed you because you wish He'd bless you like He did someone else, you miss out on the incredible things He's doing in both your life and the lives of others.
The older brother's night could've went so differently. He could've joined in on the celebration. He could've spent time with his family and friends. He could've reconnected with his little brother. But instead, he missed out on all the fun and festivities. In fact, the text never tells us that he came to his senses and decided to come to the party.
The older brother may not have made the unwise choices that the prodigal son had, but he was just as far from his father. He lacked one thing that his little brother had come to find: humility.
The older brother looked like he had it all together. On the outside, he was the son who had chosen the straight and narrow way. The people in their town probably wondered why the younger brother couldn't have been more like the older one.
You, like the older brother, may look like you're living according to God's way on the outside, but on the inside, are you prideful? Are you upset when the Father blesses others? Are you missing out on what the Father is doing because you're too focused on you?
I wonder how many of us need to humble ourselves and come running to the Father like the younger brother did. Both of these brothers had sin in their lives: the difference is their response to it. The younger brother repented; we see no evidence of this for the older brother.
Whether you're living out in the world like the younger brother, or your harboring pride like the older brother, the Father is waiting for you to join in on His celebration.
The brothers might have responded differently to their sin, but the father sure didn't. When the younger brother came home, the father came running to meet him. When the older son refused to go to the party, the father left the party to come after him.
The Father is coming after you today, and I encourage you to run towards Him too. He loves you, and He'll celebrate your return.
Are you saved but aren't living at the level of surrender that God would have you to live? Is there sin that's in the way? Run to the Father and repent. There will be love and grace waiting for you.
Do you not have a relationship with Jesus but you see that you are dead in your sin and need to turn to Him? There's good news for you too.
Hear this, we are all sinners. We have all done things and made choices that do not align with God's Will for our lives. But God, in His love and mercy, sent His Son Jesus to pay the price for our sin. Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day. All who place their faith and trust in Him will be saved. Romans 10:13 says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall saved." If you will call on the Name of the Lord today, admit you are a sinner in need of a Savior, and ask Him to save you, He will!
Friends, wherever you're at, there's hope for you. Choose humility today and fall at Jesus' feet.
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." Philippians 2:3
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