Read Luke 15:11-32 (NLT)
The Older Son Was Lost Too!
“The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you ... And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. "
Luke 15:28-30 (NLT)
In most bibles,this passage is headlined "Parable of the Lost Son" or " Prodigal Son." It seems to point out that only the younger son was lost. After all, he dishonored God and his earthly father and squandered all his inheritance.
But my sharing has been titled, "Story of the TWO Lost Sons".
While the younger boy was physically and spiritually lost (away from God and his father), the older one was in a similar boat. Even though he never left his father physically, he was far away from the father's heart. He did not appropriate his status as the father's son!
He complained about his brother instead of celebrating his repentance and return. He contented that his father did not reward him for his years of faithful and hard work for the family. He complained!
Why did he have such thoughts?
I believe that it is because he did appropriate his status as the father's son, and behaved like a slave (Luke 15:29 NLT). The father told him "...you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours."(Luke 15:29 NLT). Wow, everything the father had was his! And yet, he live the life of a slave. What a "poor" guy he was? All because he did not appropriate his son-ship.
Notice that the son complained, ".... And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends." (Luke 15:29 NLT). The truth is that he never asked! Jesus implied that the father would give him anything and everything that he asks for. After all, the younger son asked for his inheritance and the father gave him.
Beloved, "... we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.." (Rom 8:17 NLT). Let's behave like one.
God bless.
Steven
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