The Prodigal’s Brother (#105 of 365+)

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours’” (Luke 15:31)

The prodigal son is the more famous of the two sons in the
parable, but Jesus Christ meant to teach an important truth from his brother’s story as well. Earlier in Luke chapter 15 it says the Pharisees and religious teachers were critical of the way Jesus welcomed and ate with tax collectors and sinners. In the middle-eastern culture of that day meals were literally shared—they used their hands and ate from a common dish—therefore one wouldn’t dine with those who were considered “unclean”. Meals were segregated so even women and children weren’t allowed to dine with men. Jesus knew he was being criticized so he shared three parables in a row: The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and The Lost Son. After he had emphasized in all three stories about the value of those who were lost he slammed the religious leaders and scholars with the following words: “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found’” (v.31-32).

Only a few hundred years had passed between the writing of Malachi and the birth of John the Baptist, and already the Jewish leaders had forgotten what God had given them. When God shows me the frailties of people in the bible he is simply putting a mirror in front of my face.

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:12-13)

When all is going well I, like the prodigal's brother and the religious leaders of Jesus' day, forget the undeserved blessings and riches God has given me. The word says he has “blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). As Joni said so eloquently, “God has nothing more beyond Christ to give those who suffer… or those who do not”. If I have Jesus Christ, I have everything I need. But every Christian has a little bit of prodigal’s brother or religious Pharisee, the tendency to become discontent, dual-minded, self-righteousness, and even at times hypocritical. With this type of flawed thinking my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ somehow seems less than enough. The only way to correct the error is to allow the Holy Spirit to do his work in me while I delve deeper into the Word and seek God in prayer.

I’ll close with one last thought. When the apostle Paul gave examples of how believers should love others he wrote a significant phrase: “Rejoice with those who rejoice” (Romans 12:15). When I don’t look at everything through the lens of how it benefits me I’ll feel true joy and celebrate with others when they gain a blessing. However, when someone is rejoicing but I just don’t feel like joining in the celebration—I should take a serious look at what’s going on inside my heart.

Father, thank you for giving me “every spiritual blessing in Christ”. I want to rejoice when you rejoice and mourn when you mourn. Fill my heart with love for the lost. May they see Jesus Christ in me. Amen.