|
His Word and Mine |
The Prodigal Son: Luke 15:11–32 |
||
| Introduction
The Story
Study Questions |
||
Introduction |
||
| This story is a parable Jesus told to teach God's loving and forgiving nature. God's forgiveness is contrasted against our human limitations in forgiveness. The Prodigal son's story is told here from his point of view. Before reading The Prodigal Son Story, read Luke 15:11–32. |
||
The Prodigal Son |
||
| I'll be honest. I resented my heritage, so I left home. All generations of my family have been typical Jews. Every generation imitated the last. Predictable. Way too confining for me. I wanted to taste the world, experience it for myself. So, I did the unacceptable. I asked Dad for my share of the inheritance. I'd be getting it later anyway. Why not get it now when I could really enjoy it? Dad protested, but he gave it to me anyway. I realize now that I took more than I deserved. Dad still needed that money to run and build up the farm, and my older brother would have gotten more than half the estate. But Dad finally gave me what I thought I deserved. So, off I went. I was young and definitely full of energy and empty of wisdom. At first life seemed great. Women loved me and they asked for seemingly little. I was so drunk with all they offered me that I didn't even think about how much or how often I was spending. Life was good and I wanted it to last forever. My friends helped me forget about my stifled past. They listened to my every word and loved me so completely. Everything was better than I'd ever known— —until the money ran out. That hurt. I had no idea they were watching my purse. If they cared about me, they would have been there for me, rich or poor. They would have helped me as I did them. It took a long while to recover from their lack of loyalty. I had nowhere to go. I couldn't go home. I'd spent my inheritance, including what Dad would have spent on my keep had I never left. I did not want him to see me as a failure. To go home, which was beginning to look good to me, I'd have to return with dignity in the same wealthy condition he had last seen me. I looked everywhere for work. Everyone required experience I didn't have. The only thing I could find was a job feeding pigs. Dad would have seen this as the lowest job of all because, in our family culture, pigs are unclean. Serving a pig made me even lower than a pig. But, I kept my pride and gave this job my all. Still, the pigs' slop looked more appealing than my own food. In truth, I was starving. At one point, I wanted to throw myself into the trough because, as pig food, my life would at least have some purpose. That thought woke me up. I panicked to know I couldn't keep this job. The only thought that gave me any sense of relief was returning home. Maybe I could return as a hired hand to my father and earn my keep there. His hired hands' diet was far better than mine. So I quit my work and set out for home. Trouble began when I arrived—not from my father—from my brother. Dad ran out to greet me as soon as he saw me coming. He was so excited to see me. He threw his arms around me and kissed me. I assured him I was returning as a hired hand because, after what I'd done to him and my inheritance, I didn't deserve to be his son. But he didn't care. My brother did. Dad gave me new clothes and threw a party in honor of my return. My brother never showed up. Dad tried to persuade him to join in, but he refused. He's been grouchy ever since. Dad says he's jealous, but I don't know of what. He's been home all this time, confident of the love of his friends and family. He still has his inheritance to look forward to. I'm sure I've already spent all of mine. He never had to feed pigs. I'm sure he never even considered feeding himself to the livestock. He hasn't lost a thing. I've lost everything. He doesn't see the pain he's causing Dad. Only now do I understand the pain I caused by leaving, and I regret it. I wish I could make my brother understand what I know without him having to go through what I did. Dad says to just be patient and he'll come around. So that's what I'm doing. I've tried talking to him about it, but he won't listen. I have no credibility with him, he says. Maybe he's right that I'd feel the same way if I were in his place. Right now I can't imagine feeling anything but gratitude toward Dad. I don't know how he forgave me so completely and quickly, but he did. I love my brother. So I'll do what my father says to do and wait for him to come around. Sometimes I feel anger towards him for hurting Dad this way, but I remind myself to be patient. So I now wait to celebrate the day my brother opens his eyes. And when that happens, I will welcome him the way my father welcomed me. |
||
Study Questions |
||
Know This
Consider This
Personalize This
|
||
Back to Top |
||
|
Home |
Today's Thought |
Daily Devotion |
Pray |
Bible Stories |
Lessons |
Gift Shop |
Daily Devotion Archive |
Today's Thought Archive |
Prayer Archive |
Donations |
About |
Contact |
Site Map ©2010 Jan Heller. All rights reserved. |