What do I want: the Father or His “Stuff”?

Most of us are at least somewhat familiar with one of the most famous stories that Jesus ever shared with His disciples, found in Luke chapter 15, that of “The Prodigal Son”. The setting for the telling of the story was quite interesting. Jesus had gathered together a group of well known sinners and tax-collectors for a dinner party.  The religious leaders of the time were very much upset that a rabbi would hang around with such riff raff.

The Pharisees and scribes, who were following Jesus, could not help themselves and felt it was their obligation and duty to publicly denounce this gathering of questionable people and to grumble about why a reputable rabbi would do such a thing. It is in this context that Jesus shares the story of the Lost Son.

We are introduced to three main characters – the father, who is a wealthy property owner, and his two sons. The younger son has made a decision that he is done with working the farm and comes to his father with a request, “give me the share of the estate that falls to me.” He wants his inheritance now. He does not want to wait until his father’s death he desires what will be rightfully his in the future but he wants it in the now.

To everyone’s surprise the father complies and divides his estate between the two sons. The younger immediately packs up his things and travels to a distant country to begin living off of his inheritance. After a season of wild partying and loose living the younger son finds himself broke and friendless in a foreign land caught in the midst of a severe famine. The odd job that he is able to find, that of a pig feeder, is not meeting his needs and he determines to go home. “I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men’.”

As the younger son makes the long trip home, he rehearses the speech over and over and is prepared to humble himself before the father in hopes that the father will take him back, not as a son because his actions were far too sinful, but at least as a worker. 

As he arrives home and comes to the road of his father’s property he is ready to give the speech that he has been preparing the whole time. Yet he is met with a completely surprising response, an overwhelming joy and excitement over his return. The father is not angry. He is overjoyed and demands that a party begin immediately, “bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fatted calf, kill it, and let us eat and be merry.”

Not the response he thought he would get and certainly not the response I think I would have given had my son returned home broke after blowing my retirement. Don’t get me wrong, I would be happy that he is home and returned safely to the family but I don’t think I would have thrown a joyous celebration and honored him the way the father in the story did.

In the midst of this joyous homecoming and partying we are re-introduced to the older son and his response is a little surprising, “he became angry and was not willing to go in.” In fact his father has to come outside in order to inquire as to why he is not coming in to celebrate. “Look, for so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours and yet you have never given me a kid that I might be merry with my friends, but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with harlots, you killed the fattened calf for him.”

The charge is simple and the hurt is clearly expressed, ‘I have been faithful for years and followed all of your commands and yet you never once through a party for me’. But the father’s response is telling and necessary, “My child, you have always been with me and all this is mine is yours, but we had to be merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, was lost and has been found.”

My pastor always encourages us to find ourselves in the story and look for the lesson that Jesus is specifically speaking to you. For me, I am the older brother. I am the faithful one, the one who has followed the commands and obeyed everything that was asked of me. The one who has not rocked the boat and has been compliant with trying to obey what God has wanted for my life.  Yet I look around and see others enjoying things that I want – employment and the fulfillment of the desires of their hearts.  Where’s my party, God?

The younger brother was more blatant in what he wanted – the father’s estate and inheritance. And his was brazen in his request to get it. The older brother however was more subtle and discreet – he too wanted the father’s estate and inheritance – but was willing to earn it through obedience and faithful service. The problem is that neither brother seemed to want the father. They only wanted what he could give them.   And I realize that sometimes I do that, too.

Jesus was teaching that the Father loves us and is willing to go to amazing lengths to win us to Him. But are we willing to be won by Him for the sole purpose of just being with Him?  Or is it that we just want “the stuff” that He has to offer? Is being with God enough? Is God the treasure that we seek or are we seeking God because we believe He will give us treasure as a blessing or result of our relationship with Him?

In the midst of an incredible personal journey and a season of struggle and unemployment that has lasted far longer then I anticipated, I am asking myself these questions on a daily basis. God is desiring a personal relationship with me and wanting me to come to Him and just be. I am searching my innermost thoughts and desires to weed them out so that I can come to the place where I too just want to be with the Father and that is enough. No ulterior motives and no secret wants, just hanging out with the Father.