In Luke 15, starting in verse 11, we find the story of the Prodigal Son.  Most of us know this story about two sons the younger of which asked the father for his inheritance and once he had it went away and "squnadered his wealth in wild living..."(v13b, NKJV).  In other words young dude partied his butt off and spent all his inheritance on booze, gambling and wild women to the point he was broke, homeless and starving.

The young man had put himself in such a position that he had to breakdown and slop hogs to make enough to eat.  In fact in verse 16 he was so hungry, so, "in need," that Scripture says the young man, "longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating..."  The boy was so hungry he was contemplating eating the pig slop because as the verse ends, no one in the area would give him any food.

But the boy came to his senses and went home.  As he neared home, his father saw him and ran to meet him.  Dad threw his arms around his sons neck, kissed him, killed a prime calf and threw a party to welcome him home.  The older brother heard about it, cmae home, saw it and got TICKED OFF.

He went to the father to plead his case.  "Dad!  My little brother already got his inheritance.  I've been loyal all this time and before now.  He takes his money, blows it and we know what happened to him after that.  Then he comes back all whimpin out and such and Dad, you act like he ain't done nothin'.  I mean, come on Pop...where's the justice in that?  I'm the one who's been loyal and true to ya' here.  Come on!" (verse 17 to 30; NKJV) 

The older son was mad!  He felt like he had been cheated not only out of a portion of an inheritance he could have worked for but also because of all the work he had done alone since his younger brother had left,  The older brother also saw his father acting like the younger man had done nothing wrong.  After all, his younger brother had been completely selfish asking for his inheritance early.  He had been totally irresponsible and foolsih by spending every penny and putting himself in the position of being homeless and starving.  And now here he comes, waltzing back in like nothing has happened, and their father is feeding right into it by throwing a big welcome home party.  Dad is giving this spoiled kid a bunch of new clothes, bathing him and covering him in expensive oils, killing the prize calf and ordering servants to take care of him.  And the thought that could be going through his mind might be something like, "And I've busted my hump all these months for the old man and I've gotten no special treatment."

The father responds to his son's anger and disappointment with, "Son this is your younger brother.  Think about this.  It's been as if this young man has been dead.  He's been gone from us so long and we've not heard from him or about him at all.  Just as if he were dead!  Now I know he could have called or written, but he's young and impetuous. and my son, I have had you here with me where you were relatively safe."  The father is recognizing two things.

First he sees his youngest son's foolishness but instead of adding to his self imposed punishment, the father chooses to let him learn from his mistakes and forgive the young man and welcome him home...back into the family.  The father, by forgiving the irresponsibilty, selfishness, foolishness and embarrassment brought by the younger sons actions, pays the price for the young man's errors himself.  He does so by giving the boy his inheritance then by refurnishing the young man with everything he needs.  Just as if he had never left.

Next, the father recognizes the older sons anger, resntment, jealousy and pain by his actions toward the younger man.  The father takes time to explain why he's done what he's done.  "Because it was as if your brother was dead and has now returned to us,"  in essence saying they should all be happy.  The father chooses to teach the older son about compassion, forgiveness, grace and mercy.  At the same time the father is telling the older son, this is the way I choose to handle the situation regardlees of which son had left.  I expect you to act in with compassion, but I also know you must learn and understand what I'm doing.  Therefore, first, learn to love without condition and look beyond your anger.  Instead of demand I treat your brother differently, welcome him as I have with an open heart, an open mind and open eyes so you can see, feel and learn.

The question then is not why di you do this?  Instead it becomes, can I appreciate the feelings of the older brother?  Do feel like God has been unfair by giving some people different if not better treatment than me?  Am I angry with my heavenly Father because of the way the world is or because of the way my life has turned out?  If I take a moment and look at myself honestly what does this say about who I am?  About who I feel or who I think that I am?

Here's the challenges.  Have I, am I, choosing to disbelieve God, or to not believe in God, because I feel angry at Him or because I'm choosing to be angry at Him for something in my past or something I blame Him for?  How do we fix this issue?

Whenyou come to an answer, and if you'd like to discuss it, or if you have more questions, please contact us at frank@cedarvalleypointman.org or you can call at the main telephone (319) 364-3396 or the mobile telephone (319) 329-2013.  Family members can contact Jamie if they prefer at vozenilek@mchsi.com or the same main telephone or mobile telephone (319) 329-2197.

Blessings to you all,

Frank