What is life all about? The parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 illustrates three possible answers.
- LIVING IT UP! The younger prodigal son rejected his father and “set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living” (verse 13).
- GRUDGING DUTY. The older brother harshly rebuked his father’s forgiving spirit with “all these years I’ve been slaving for you” (verse 29). His resentful response revealed his true feelings toward his father –the older brother’s obedience was a grudging, ungrateful duty.
- JOYFUL LOVE. The father gently replied, “My son, 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” (verses 31-32),
One son tried to live it up and one toiled resentfully to make a living. Between the license of the younger, and the legalism of the older, stood the father’s compassion. Between the unrighteousness of the one, and the self-righteousness of the other, stood a father’s mercy. Between wanton pleasure and wounded pride stood a father’s love for both his sons, even though both had rejected his. Both sons were self-centered, each in his own way, and thus both were “dead.” Only the father, who loved unselfishly, understood what life is all about.
Dan Williams
