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The magnetism of the story we usually refer to as "The Prodigal Son" continues to hold me in its orbit. If it was the only story Jesus ever told, it would still give us great insight into the nature of the gospel including the condition of the human heart, the futility of the human solution, the nature of grace and the way back to God.
Yesterday I was chatting with a fellow Pastor over lunch and the dynamics of this powerful, inspirational story pushed themselves into our conversation. I found myself thinking again about the older son. In some measure, I can sympathize with his position. The sheer hide of his little brother coming home to such a welcome must have seemed so unfair. So unjust. So foolish on the part of his father.
Yes, I think I can hear him now….
What is the matter with my father? Why is he rewarding such unforgivable behaviour with a party? Dad might treat him as his son but I refuse to acknowledge him as my brother. If anyone deserves a party, it's me! I'm the one who has held the farm together while dad wasted so much time hanging around the gate, watching and waiting for the loser to come home.
Where's my recognition? What about affirming me? For years I've slaved on this property and for what? I've done everything my old man asked of me and then some. Did anyone recognize all that effort? No! But then the loser turns up on the doorstep and he gets the fattened calf and a party. I don't even get a young goat to celebrate with my mates.
That party should be mine, not his. I'm the one who should be down there as the centre of attention. The loser should be up here, working his heart out trying to make amends for all the damage he's done to the family name, let alone the bank account!
I don't understand my father. Doesn't he realize what kind of message he's sending? The party is a farce. "Do the right thing all your life and nobody knows or cares. Do the wrong thing and you get a party"! Go figure.
Well, I may have done everything dad told me to do to this point but there is no way I'm going to that party. He can plead, threaten or beg all he wants. I will not have anything to do with an event that celebrates and rewards deliberate self-centredness and a lifestyle of sin.
And so the arguments that are typical of self-righteousness rage in his soul. But the disturbing aspect is that there is something very familiar and contemporary with the stand that the older brother is taking. It's like saying, "I've heard those arguments before…..and not so long ago. In fact, quite recently. Maybe there is more of the older brother in me than I care to admit?"
