The Father’s Estate
The prodigal son is one of Jesus’ more familiar teachings. In it, most recognize the Father as a character representing God.
The parable has multiple applications and an unresolved ending. It is about lostness and the subsequent celebration when lost things are found. Luke 15 begins with a story about a shepherd with a hundred sheep, segues to a story of a woman with ten coins, and finally to a father with two sons.
You know the story – the younger son requests his share of the father’s estate before journeying to a distant country where he squanders everything on loose living. He finds himself in need and decides to return home with the intent of requesting his father receive him as a hired servant. Instead, the father joyfully restores the rights of full sonship and prepares an elaborate feast to celebrate his homecoming.
The tension lies in the older brother’s response. He is angry and refuses to join the celebration. Just as the father ran out to meet the prodigal son, he leaves the party and goes out to meet his oldest son. He entreats him to see things from his perspective. The Bible does not record his appeal, but love initiates the father’s actions. The son’s response indicates he personally feels he has the right to tell the father how the family’s robes, rings, and fatted calves should be used – not on the younger brother but instead on him.
Deuteronomy 21:17 records the rights of the firstborn related to the division of an estate – they were to receive a double portion. Having received two-thirds of the estate, the older brother is advocating for more. His refusal to celebrate his brother’s homecoming in part is based on greed as well as a desire for his brother to receive the father’s judgement instead of his grace and mercy. Instead of celebrating the magnanimity of the father’s gesture of re-instatement, the older brother focused on his perception of what the father had not done for him. Both brothers were after the same thing – the wealth of the father’s estate.
How will your story end? In Jesus’ encounter with Zacharias, there is the joyful proclamation in Luke 19:9, “Today salvation has come to this house…for the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which is lost.” Will life stewardship of your assets include a concern for the lostness of this fallen world? The church armed with the gospel represents the only hope for the lost. If the Foundation can assist you or your church, please call on us. Lost souls hang in the balance.
Bart McDonald | SBTF Executive Director