OUR INHERITANCE
Reading ‘The Prodigal Son’ the other day, about two sons and their father, I noticed something I had not seen before or heard any lessons about. In Luke 15 verses 11-32, we read of a younger son asking for his inheritance from his father. The father gave him his inheritance as he requested. The word I want you to look at in this reading is “them,” which is in all of the versions I researched. I have been a Christian for 60 years and never picked up on that word in verse 12. “…So, he divided to THEM his livelihood.” (capitalization by me) The older son, who had not asked for his inheritance, received his inheritance at the same time his brother got his! Now, I know you are saying, ‘what, you did not know that?’ Isn’t it amazing how no matter how old we are or how long we have been a Christian, that we constantly “see” new things we have never thought of before! The scripture is there for everyone, no matter what spiritual journey we are on. Psalm 21:4-5 reads “Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.”
The fact that their father gave their inheritance to both of them willingly, demonstrates his love, faith and trust that they would spend it wisely. He did not base his actions on their merit or their behavior. He was not thinking about what they would do with it or their actions, whether good or bad. They had the choice of what to do with their inheritance. He gave it all to them. Verse 12 says, “…he divided to them his livelihood.” (During ancient times, the younger son would have received half of what the elder son received. The younger son did not receive as much money from the father as his brother did. Probably a good thing as we are going to see in a minute.)
The word prodigal means: person who spends money in a reckless and imprudent way. So, it is evident by the word prodigal, that the youngest son went and spent all of his money. Verse 13 says “…journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.” He went far away. He went where no one would know him or see what he was doing. What he did not remember was in Psalm 139:1-3, David says, “O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.” He forgot that God knows all. After he had spent all his money, a famine came to that country. So, he became in need. During this time, the older brother had been at home working. Verse 25 says “…was in the field.” The older brother had been going about his life, doing the things that were required of him and being obedient to his father.
The younger son, found a job to “…to feed the swine.” The Jewish people would look at this as an insulting job, because pigs were unclean according to the Law of Moses. He was desperate. Verse 16 says, “…he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.” Verse 17 says “…when he came to himself…” He finally realized, that even the servants at his father’s home ate abundantly, with food even left over and here he was starving. He wanted to go home. When he got home, he thought, he would tell his father “…I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
Well, he was in for a surprise! His father saw him “…still a great way off.” And the father ran to embrace his son. He told the servants to get him the best robe, a ring, sandals and to prepare a fatted calf so they could “…be merry.” A fatted calf was usually only prepared for special occasions. The father was overjoyed that his youngest son had come back! The oldest son, heard all the merriment and asked a servant what was going on. When the servant told him, verses 28 -30 says, “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore, his father came out and pleaded with him. So, he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and 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.” (Underlined words by me.) What attitude would you say the oldest son had? Look at the words I underlined. I see he was jealous-all about him-selfishly only thinking about himself. Son was angry-father pleaded-and then look at all the my and I’s. He even calls his younger brother “…this son of yours…” When I read that, I can see what a child might say. With his life and his inheritance, the oldest son reminds his father that he did all he was supposed to do in service and obedience to him.
So, let’s apply some things to us today in this parable.
- This is a picture of a father letting his son go his own way. The Father in this parable is God. God gives everyone the same chance to make the right choices for their lives. Whether we make the right choice of obedience or not, it is up to us. The Bible is full of men and women making bad choices and good ones. Joshua 24:15 says “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” Joshua said “…but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” God gives us freewill to live our lives for the world or for God. Jesus says in Matthew 6:24 “…You cannot serve God and mammon.” (things of this world) The father had the choice to give his sons their inheritance and they each had the choice of how to use it. God has given us an inheritance in heaven, if we make the right choices on this earth.
- The younger son did not feel worthy to be called his father’s son because of what he did. The father saw him coming and ran to him with open arms and rejoiced that he came home. That is the same with us. God created us in His image and He loves us without limits or conditions. You are His precious child. God values you so much that He sent His only Son to die upon that cruel cross of Calvary for us. It is through Christ that we find our worth, not by this world’s definition. Even though we have sinned and don’t feel that God thinks we are worthy to be His child, God is actually waiting for us to come back to Him. He is always ready, with open arms, to bring us back into His loving arms. 1John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Did you see that two-letter word “if?” We have to make the choice to return. When we come to Jesus with our mistakes, our failures or feelings of unworthiness, He is faithful to forgive us and give us hope. Not only does He immediately forgive us, but also cleanses us. He cleanses us, restores us and helps us not to live in that dark place of feeling unworthy and sinful. The father in the parable immediately ran to his son, just as our God will do for us.
- The older brother became angry and was all about himself. In his mind, his relationship with his father was based on the works that he had been doing. But he did not have the right heart. He had never been given a party and look at all he had done. He was consumed with thoughts of equality and justice for himself. This son failed to realize that he could have enjoyed at any time a party and enjoyed all the blessings that were already given to him. We can be like that. We can keep on serving the Lord but don’t see any recognition from others or we get tired and forget that God is Who gives us recognition by His many blessings, even in the midst of trials or in our service. It all stems within our attitude. The older brother did not have a good attitude. His attitude was negative and centered on himself. We need to stop looking down on and at ourselves and look up to the One who can restore our souls with positivity and forgiveness!
The father in the parable had pleaded with the older son, to come in to the party. The father’s door was always open. God is always ready with open arms to receive us back to Him when we disobey. But He is also always there for us when we are living our lives in the right way. We are in His presence, full of His daily blessings each and every day. Matthew 7:7 says “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.” We do have to put action into our service for the Lord. We are all worthy to be God’s child, because we were made in the image of God and God loved us so much He gave His only Son on the cross. He gives each of us grace and mercy. God’s mercy allows us to repent and reconcile with Him. His grace provides salvation and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. He loves us no matter what our actions show.
The parable talks about an earthly inheritance from an earthly father. But our Father in heaven has given us a heavenly inheritance. God’s inheritance is what we should always strive for!
1Peter 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy, has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
God is always ready with open arms to forgive and welcome us back when we sin. Our inheritance is from our heavenly Father, who freely gives to each and every one of us. Who would have thought the word THEM would have “jumped” out at me!
What are you doing with and towards the inheritance your Father is giving you?
Till next time!
Keela
(51% of American Christians plan to vote, but that leaves 49% who plan to stay at home on November 5th. Apathy among Christian voters can be the ‘gamechanger’ for this 2024 election. It is our right and privilege to vote because of the sacrifice of our men and women now, in the past and in the future, who serve in our armed forces. Raise your voices and have the courage to vote for our God given values. Let’s make a difference! Get out and vote!)