 Over the past four weeks at Amazing Love Community Church we have spent time at each service looking at the story of the prodigal son. Most of us have heard of the prodigal son but how many of us know what it means to be "prodigal"? The definition of prodigal is "Spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant". I think there are times in all of lives where could fit that description. I know personally when I was much younger and running from the call of God on my life, I spent money on an extravagant lifestyle and wasted a great deal of my earnings rather than saving and living humbly. As we first looked at the story of this boy in the Luke we found a man who had two sons. I believe the scriptures clearly indicate that this boy was from a rich family. He decided that he wanted to take what was to be his inheritance now so he could get out of the county and live live it up. The King James version of the the bible says "he wasted his substance on riotous living". I think we can see that he lived it up and wasted all that he had been given from his father. After the money ran out all of his friends disappeared and he was left with nothing. He found himself truly at what we would call rock bottom.  He found himself famished and feeding the swine and eating the same slop the pigs ate. It took this boy loosing everything including his haughty spirit and sense of entitlement for him to realize that he had made a terrible mistake. The bible teaches us that "Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall" Proverbs 16:18 (KJV). I am also reminded of the scripture that says there is pleasure in sin for a season... (Hebrews 11:25) and that is so true. If you have served the Lord for any time at all you know what it is like to "slip up" and a "little sin" takes you you miles away from the father an inch at a time. Yes, you can party up and partake in every imaginable sin and you will have a blast for a little while... but I can promise you that the pleasure that you find in sin will only last for a season and when the party is over and the hangover has set in you realize that you are wasting your life and killing yourself one party at a time. Part II, The Epiphany  During week two we examined this you boys epiphany. While he was at his worst, rock bottom if you will, it came to him that the servants in his father's house lived better than he did. There he was in the middle of a pig pin eating out of a trough and it finally dawned him to head home and beg daddy to hire him as a servant so he wouldn't have to continue to live in the filth and the nastiness he had been living. One of the key points we are looking at during the second week, was the fact that having the epiphany or realization wasn't sufficient. He had to "arise" and get up out of the situation that he was in and head toward home. Perhaps you have found yourself in a place similar to this in your walk with Christ. You talk about doing something for the Lord... starting your own person ministry be it inside or outside the walls of the church but it never makes it off the planning table. You see, if you looking around today you will see that there are many people who do a lot of talking about what they are going to do for God but never put any action behind it. The prodigal son not only realized he was at rock bottom and he needed to return home... he actually rose up and did something about it. He took the first steps toward home. Over the years, as I have counseled and witnessed to individuals one of the most common things I hear from folks is "when I get my self straightened up I am going get in church". Have you ever encountered this attitude when are witnessing or sharing the love of God with a friend, coworker or even a complete stranger? I always tell the person with love, and in the most sincere way possible that you don't have to wait to straighten yourself up... if you could get yourself right with God by your own handy work then you wouldn't need a savior. It is time that we in the church put some action behind the good plans we are making and get to work for night is coming when no man can work. Part III, The Father's Reaction  In week three of our series we examined the fathers role in this parable. Out of all the elements of the fathers reaction to the return of his son two key points stick out to me: First, the father had every right in the world to chastise and rebuke his son. After all, his son wanted what was his and hit the road to live it up abandoning his family. If there was ever a time that a father could say "I told you so" it was at this point. However, in this case, the father (who symbolized Father God) didn't say anything negative, he didn't say "I told you so" or "have you learned your lesson?". In fact, he didn't even ask where he had been. Rather than dwelling on the negatives of the situation the father focused on the fact that that which was lost was now found. The second thing about the father's reaction that really stuck out to me is the fact that the father saw the son when he was "yet a great way off" (Luke 15:20) and he RAN to him and with no condemnation restored him to a son-ship, something the boy never expected. He fell on him and kissed him. Can you imagine how dirty and tattered this boy had to be... can you imagine what he had to smell like... yet the only thing that mattered to the father was the fact that the son had come home again. He then sent his servant forth for the BEST robe for him, a ring to go on his finger and shoes for his feet. And then on top of all that he slaughtered the fattest finest calf and threw a huge party with singing and dancing. The boy had to humble himself and realize what he was worth himself and what he really "deserved" and the his father ran to meet him and restore him to son-ship and gave him everything he didn't deserve! So many people stay "far from God" because they think they have done too much, gotten to dirty and partied to much. The feel like God would never want them when nothing could be further from the truth. No matter what you have done or how low you have sank in the pig pin of sin and iniquity all you have to do is take a step or two toward God and he will RUN to meet you. Part IV: The Haters  I don't like to spend much time thinking or talking about the hater's in life because they really aren't worth it. If we would spend more of our time focusing on the those who enrich our lives and support us on our journey we would be much better off. However, the Lord did talk about a hater in this story and if he felt it was significant enough to include I certainly can't argue! In this story we find the "hater" being the elder son. He was out working in fields and heard the music and the dancing. There was a PARTY going on at his house and didn't even know about it. He asked one of the servants what's all this about... why are we having a party and the servant said "your little brother has come back safe and sound and your father threw this big party for him. The elder brother got ANGRY and he refused to go celebrate with the family and friends. I think that it is worth mentioning again that even though this son was overcome with jealousy and was not having "good thoughts" the father came to him. Yes he had lost his way in self righteousness. You see after the younger son left I feel sure the older brother's work load increased. He had to pick up his slack while little brother was about parting and living it up. Sibling rivalry has been around since the beginning of time, literally; remember Cain and Abel? Nevertheless, the father came to him. He began to complain to his father about his workload and point out his faithfulness over the years and told the father "and you have never threw a party for me". The brother had a since of entitlement. We as Christians can easily slip into this mindset if we aren't careful... I got to church every Sunday, I pay my tithes, I am honest, I don't gossip, I don't steal, I don't cheat, I say my prayers every morning and night and I volunteer at the soup kitchen God... why is this happening to me? Why is Pastor X driving around in a Benz and me in a corolla? Have you ever been there on some level? This is where we need to remind ourselves that IT IS NOT ABOUT US... our righteousness is as filthy rags before the Lord. No matter how "good" and "holy" we live our lives we aren't impressing God. It is the righteous of Christ that will carry us through. Quit comparing yourself to other people and just do what God has called you to do! The next thing the elder son did was point out the sin of his brother to make himself look better. I am sure if you have ever attended church you have seen this before. People love to put others down because it makes them feel better about themselves. The elder son told the father "he has wasted your money on prostitutes and you kill the best cow and trow him a party?!? I am sure we all can understand and relate in some way to the elder brother.... He was doing his best to do the right thing and here is little brat of brother who took the easy way out and lived it up blowing all his money while he stayed there and worked.... What we have to realize is that God doesn't have a point system. Not lying today earns you points and you don't deduct any points for every lustful thought you have. That is just not his nature... sin is sin in his eyes and forgiveness is forgiveness. I think this is why we are told to work out own salvation in fear and trembling before the Lord.... We need to worry about ourselves and greet the wayward sons and daughters as they come to him... talk to them not about them... they are coming... are you ready to run to them? Add Comment |  Timothy E. Curtis
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