shortlady
Member
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2005
- Messages
- 2,696
The Prodigal Son “Other Brother”
Many of us know just how it feels to be the 'other brother'. We stayed the course. We remained faithful. We shouldered the burden. While 'they' went off and had their fun in the sun. Won't someone notice? Doesn't anybody care? "Hey God, do You realize all I'm giving up for you? Do you see all that I'm doing here?" That's kinda how the brother of the Prodigal Son felt. In Luke 15, he complains to his dad, "Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends."
Let me help you notice two things here. First, this boy better deal with his anger before it destroys him. God told Cain that anger wanted to master him but he must subdue it first. In Ephesians, Paul teaches that anger gives the devil a foothold in your life. Notice also that he seems angry here due to the unfairness of the situation. Kinda like the guys who worked all day and got paid the same as those who only worked one hour. (Matt 20) It's just not fair that the father throws a stinkin party for the rebel son after he comes back from wasting his inheritance!
The problem with the workers who grumbled and the son who got angry, is that they have no clue just what they are asking for. Do you REALLY want God to treat you fairly? Have you really stayed the course and done everything the Father asked? Do you really think you can stand up under the just judgment of a Holy God? If God was fair I'd go to hell, but since God is merciful I am now an heir of His Kingdom. "Having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:7) Even the fact that I identify with the other brother proves my fault. No matter what I may think, I am really the prodigal son. So like the great Apostle Paul I say, "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst." (1Tim 1:15) God's grace be with you all...
Many of us know just how it feels to be the 'other brother'. We stayed the course. We remained faithful. We shouldered the burden. While 'they' went off and had their fun in the sun. Won't someone notice? Doesn't anybody care? "Hey God, do You realize all I'm giving up for you? Do you see all that I'm doing here?" That's kinda how the brother of the Prodigal Son felt. In Luke 15, he complains to his dad, "Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends."
Let me help you notice two things here. First, this boy better deal with his anger before it destroys him. God told Cain that anger wanted to master him but he must subdue it first. In Ephesians, Paul teaches that anger gives the devil a foothold in your life. Notice also that he seems angry here due to the unfairness of the situation. Kinda like the guys who worked all day and got paid the same as those who only worked one hour. (Matt 20) It's just not fair that the father throws a stinkin party for the rebel son after he comes back from wasting his inheritance!
The problem with the workers who grumbled and the son who got angry, is that they have no clue just what they are asking for. Do you REALLY want God to treat you fairly? Have you really stayed the course and done everything the Father asked? Do you really think you can stand up under the just judgment of a Holy God? If God was fair I'd go to hell, but since God is merciful I am now an heir of His Kingdom. "Having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:7) Even the fact that I identify with the other brother proves my fault. No matter what I may think, I am really the prodigal son. So like the great Apostle Paul I say, "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst." (1Tim 1:15) God's grace be with you all...
