A Twist on the Prodigal Son

Surely at some point we all feel like the elder brother.  I am referring to the parable of the Lost (prodigal, if you prefer) Son in Luke 15.  The story is a familiar one, as it shows the love and care God has for each of us.  We all have sinned and therefore were like the younger son.  Yet, at the same time, because of that sin, we can also identify with the one who didn't leave.  Jedi Guini mentions a not-so-unique feeling in her latest blog.  She points out the feelings that can at times plague the single person, who striving to be like Christ, still finds themselves single.  At those times it can appear like the good gift of a spouse is being "wasted" on the wrong people.  Sometimes it feels like everyone else is being blessed but me.  Why is it that it seems like the love of God is so far away?

That's because the older one was still distant from the Father.  Sure, he may not have been far, but he refused to go inside, which meant he was away from the father.  Many have pointed out that this is the Pharisee in the story (the whole thing was predicated on Pharisees pointing out that Jesus ate with "sinners") because he did not like the father celebrating the other son's return; I do not disagree.  But I find that their major sin is refusing to come inside.  The feelings of frustration and jealousy are natural, but a separation from God-- what is wrong is to refuse to be reunited. 

The Elder brother may have felt offended, but chose to not rejoice in his brother's return.  This, then, looks like the parable of the two sons in Matthew 21 where the one son did not do as the Father wanted.  Does the Elder brother have a solid case?  No.  The fattened calf was not all that the Father had, but that is the tantrum that the Elder son threw.

So where does that leave me?  Well, I know that "a prudent wife is from the LORD" but just because I am not married yet does not mean that God ran out of good gifts to give.  That might seem like the case when I don't even have any prospects, but it is not.  I choose not to remain jealous; I choose not to remain outside the party.  I choose to go in, celebrate and be glad.  Why? Because I have a Father who loves me.  When I leave town, He looks anxiously for my return; when I do not feel like coming in, He comes to plead with me.  Nothing that I have earned, done, or said, but because of who He is.