The Prodigal Son
Welcome aboard The Clarion Express, because we are going to talk about the
Prodigal Son.
Was Yeshua using this parable to teach us about the Father or was it to teach us about wealth? Let’s take a look at Luke 15. We see here that the younger son asks his father for his share of the estate. So the father consents and divides his wealth between his two sons. It was not long when the younger son packed up his things and left home and went to another country. I guess it is natural for children to leave home and go out on their own. But the difference is that this son now had great riches. It is so important that we teach our children about finances and how to be responsible with money, and of course, the Bible tells us that the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). This is what the son did with
his money, he squandered it on wild living. Now that he was broke he had to go out and get a job.
Luke 15: 15-17 tells us, “So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!”’
This son finally realized that his father’s servants lived better than he did. Why is it that we do not appreciate where we are in life? Many times we make our choices and then we can’t understand that we put ourselves in the position that we are in. The parable continues in Luke 15:18-20a, “I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.’ And he arose and came to his father.”’ Back in the day that Yeshua was telling this parable it would have been shameful for a son to ask for his inheritance while the father was still alive. This is why the son knew that he could no longer be considered a son and yet, he knew that his father was a very generous man for him to want to go and work for him.
Yeshua continues His story in Luke 15:20b, “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.” Now it was as if the father knew that his son would one day come back to him, at least this is what he hoped. Now this is where we are going to stop with this story for the story has many meanings up to this point. Let’s go back to
1 Timothy 6:6-10 and look at this story through Timothy’s eyes. “Devotion to God is, in fact, a way for people to be very rich, but only if it makes them satisfied with what they have. When we came into the world, we brought nothing. And when we die, we can take nothing out. So, if we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with that. People who want to be rich bring temptations to themselves. They are
caught in a trap. They begin to want many foolish things that will hurt them. These things ruin and destroy people. The love of money causes all kinds of evil. Some people have turned away from what we believe because they want to get more and more money. But they have caused themselves a lot of pain and sorrow.” Now let’s look at the father. The father here represents God, our Father.
1 John 3:1a says, “See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be
called children of God; and in fact we are.”
The son confessed to the father his sin.1 John 1:9 tells us this, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Yeshua tells us through this parable that the father actually ran towards the son and so too, when we return home to Him. As the father showed mercy and compassion on his son and so too God as Psalm 103:1-5 tells us, “Bless the Lord, my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, my soul, and do not forget any of His benefits; who pardons all your guilt, who heals all your
diseases; who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with favor and compassion; who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.”
Maybe you are like the Prodigal Son who needs to once again run into your loving Father’s arms confessing your sins. If you do, you will find Him waiting with open arms to love you only as a loving Father can.
1 John 4: 19 says, “So you see, our love for Him comes as a result of His loving us first.”
It’s time to come home!
Tweet this!