Reflecting on Luke 15:11-16“So he divided his property between them.” (Luke 15:12)
In this story, this is where the real problem begins.
The father in this story does what is unwise and dangerous.
He grants the younger son his wishes, and likely angers the older one.
As we will see, both sons become distant from their father.
Why did he give in to his younger son?
Jesus does not tell us why, but he does show us why.
In this parable we see a father that really loves his sons.
This is not a controlling or demanding love, but a giving love.
All that he has is at the disposal of both sons.
Obviously this kind of reckless generosity will lead to trouble.
That is the problem with gracious love; it can be taken advantage of.
Still, as hard as gracious love is, selfish love is worse.
Selfish love leads to misery, alienation, ruin and despair.
The younger son discovers this the hard way, and will regret it.
As hard as gracious love is, it is still better than selfish love.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, You portray a God that is foolishly determined to love, even if people take advantage of it. You have been so generous to me. The question is, what have I done with that generosity?
In a sense, desiring his father’s inheritance is like wanting his father dead. A father loves his children and yet his children at times reject that love and their father’s ways. The child has to find his own way back to the values of the father rather than thinking that he knows better than the father. I have decided to follow His ways, Jesus, and that must be evident by what I do with the gifts He has given me.