The Prodigal Son's Brother

            Can you imagine what the Prodigal Son's brother thought? You do know the story don't you? A man's son, the youngest son mind you, wanted his share of his inheritance so he could go out and do his thing.

           He spent the money on "riotous living" and in no time had spent the entire stash. He took odd jobs, the lowest being working with the pigs. While he was slopping the hogs he realized that the "servants" at his dad's place were fed better and treated better than he was.

          How humiliating. He had to try it his way. Ever been like that? I have. Anyway, he tried it his way, you know, sewed the wild oats and all that. Now he was going to have to go back and grovel to his father.

         Switch the scene to the father's ranch. Dad is sitting on the porch, as has been his custom since his baby boy left him. Sipping on some tea and just looking down the road toward the sunset. An evening ritual of his, in hopes that someday he would see his beloved son come back to him. As he peers down the dirt road, squinting from the sun, he notices something or somebody moving toward the house. Could it be? His heart was racing, he began to sweat. 

          Closer and closer the person came. It looks a little like my boy. Very disheveled though. Yes, I think that's him. He sets down his tea, gets up from the chair and begins to walk toward the figure partly obscured by the sunrays. As he gets closer, the man waves toward the boy. The boy returns the wave and begins to jog toward his dad. His dad doesn't wait for him, he begins to run toward his son. Finally they meet and the old man embraces the younger man. They hug and cry and hug some more.

            The father yells at all the others, "Go kill that fat calf, my son is returned unto me, let's party. He puts a nice robe on the boy and gives him a ring for his hand and shoes for his feet. Very touching indeed.

             Now switch to the field. The oldest son is looking on in disbelief. He calls to one of the servants and asks to be brought up to speed as to what is transpiring. The servant tells him that his brother has returned and his father is having a barbecue and a half. The son is beside himself.

Look what he tells the old man:

           But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'" (Luk 15:28-32 ESV)

           That may have done it for the son, but I don't know if I could have bought into it or not. When you are sulking or pouting it is hard to be restored in the snap of a finger. I'm sure Dad's intentions were great, but when you are hurt you are hurt. Let's face it!  Actually, the father in this parable represents God and the Prodigal represents a child of God who has gone astray. The eldest son is playing the part of a dependable, trustworthy, immovable Christian.

            Sometimes Christians act like the Prodigal's brother. They aren't happy that someone has been brought back into right fellowship. He seems to think the man should have gotten the left foot of fellowship on the behind. A spark of ol' green eyes (jealousy) creeps up and makes the Christian's world seem a little strange. I mean, he thinks, "I've been here all along. I pay my tithes, I come every service, I do everything I am supposed to do. This man, this drunk, this whoremonger, this thief comes waltzing back in and we are to just take him back like nothing ever happened?" That's what God says. Like it or not, welcome him back and love him to death.