A Man Had Two Sons

NLT Luke 15:11-32

 A man had two sons. ¹² The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.

 Photo by Les Anderson on Unsplash

Why is this ponderable? 

Very soon after the younger son received the money, he decided that since he had so much money he would move to a different country and live it up. When he left, he left for good. He took every last thing he had and didn't plan on returning.

Although Jesus uses this parable to emphasize that our Father God allows us to make mistakes in life and will not judge us harshly for them there are still many other subtle points to ponder in this story.

Yes. It is a picture of God's unconditional love for us. This love does not depend on our faithfulness; it is unconditional. He loved us while we were still sinners. Though we are demanding and do not remain faithful, God is still our faithful and loving Father. So, when the prodigal son realizes his mistakes and chooses to return home to ask for forgiveness, his father does not chide him, but celebrates his homecoming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

Then he said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.  And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

The elder son becomes angry when he learns of his younger brother returning and the celebration for his return. The older brother was so caught up in working that he forgot why he was living. He was working to earn his keep, working to earn his father's love. In all his toils, he forgot that love is not something to be earned, but given.

The elder son changes his attitude when his father explained that he loved him too. He was a good son and gave the father no grief. But the younger son had been lost, and in his return the elder brother had regained a brother and the father had regained a son

So, we are left to ponder this seeming imbalance, and many of us are likely to react like the good son who feels cheated.  Doubtless, some of us wonder what was Jesus thinking when he told this story. It seems to favor the backsliders and arrogant above those of us who do the right thing all of our lives. It also begs the age-old question: Why do bad things happen to good people?

 While these feelings are normal human feelings, we must accept that God's ways are not our ways. If we were able to see our triumphs and struggles as God sees them, we might find that God is using our struggles as a prelude to our triumphs or as a way to keep us on the path to life rather than follow the road to perdition. After all, the prodigal son had to confront the consequences of his bad choices before he changes course. Meanwhile, the good son was not inclined to make such bad choices. Yet, both were free to make those choices. That is how God dispenses Justice and Mercy in the same package. If the prodigal son had not changed course, he would have disintegrated knowing that it was his doings--not God's. Likewise, if the good son had decided to follow in his brother's footsteps out of jealousy, he too would have availed himself to God's Justice and Mercy package. Either way, the boys father will love them unconditionally.