WEDNESDAY
JUNE 18, 2014.
'...Son...all that I have is
yours.' Luke 15:31 NKJV
Don't Be
an Older Brother
In the
parable of the prodigal son Jesus is talking to two different groups: regular
people, and religious leaders who complain that Jesus 'receives sinners'. (Luke
15:2 NKJV) We all know the story. The Prodigal Son 'blew it' and ended up in a
pigsty. Later, when he returned home, his father threw a big party. But his
older brother wouldn't attend. Here was his reason: '...These many years I have
been serving you...yet you never gave me a young goat that I might make merry
with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your
livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him. And [his father]
said to him, Son...all that I have is yours.' (Luke 15:29-31 NKJV) It's the
kind of thing you hear in church from people who lift themselves up by putting
others down. Both sons spent time in the pigsty: one in the pigsty of
rebellion, the other in the pigsty of resentment. One came home to a welcome,
the other stayed home and wallowed in self-righteousness. Because of his
judgmentalism, the older son ended up losing more than the younger son: (1) He
forfeited the joy of knowing how much he was loved by his father. (2) As the
oldest son he was entitled to twice as much of his father's estate, yet he
wasn't able to enjoy a moment of it. (3) His younger brother was lost and
hurting. What an opportunity to forgive, show grace, help to restore him and
have a life-enriching relationship with him. But he forfeited it all because he
was judgmental. Don't be an older brother!
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