Prodigal Son (Part 1)

Relevant Bible Verses

1) Luke 15:11-32 Parable of the prodigal son.

A friend once asked me, "How do your children know that you truly love them?" I could not really answer him. But I know deep down inside me I truly love them and somehow they can feel my love for them. As a matter of fact, instinctively they also know I am supposed to take care of them, love them, support them (morally and financially) and to be hero over all aspects in their lives.

Do you still want to be parents and be put under such trememdous heavy responsibilities? Yes, of course! The joy you derive out of these little people is immensely satisfying that the heavy reponsibilities become so insignificant. As parents, we'll continue to shower our love upon our children as long as we can, without any slightest hesitation and expectations in return. This is parental love.

However, the parable of the prodigal son illustrates the higher God's unconditional love for the people of this world.

In this parable, there was a certain rich man who had two sons and how one of the sons (younger son) wanted to have his share of his father's wealth to be brought forward. To satisfy the son's wish, the father divided and distributed to him the portion of his share. Upon receiving the portion of his father's wealth this son immigrated to a distant country and there he squandered his money in living excessively.

When he has spent all, a femine came throughout the country and there was a very bad recession. People were suffering during that time and he was not excluded. In fact, he was so ruined and broke that he had to work in the field to feed hogs. The life in the field was depressing and it became so dire that from one point in time, he was satisfied eating the food meant for the hogs.

When he came to his senses, he told himself that many of his father's servants were having better and more delicious food than what he was eating. After much thoughts and reflections, although feeling shameful, he reluctantly decided to pack up and return home. He was even willing to be hired as one of the servants to his own father.

While he was still a long way off to the house, his father could see and recognised him immediately. The father was so moved with compassion, he ran to him and fell on his neck and kissed him affectionately.

At this moment, the son felt even more condemned and said, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, I am no longer worthy to be called your son". The father probably did not even hear what the son was saying, due to his overwhelming joy in seeing his son again. But instead instructed the servants to quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet. He further instructed the servants to bring out the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let everyone eat and be merry. The father was so happy and he said, "Because this son of mine was dead and lives again, was lost and was found!"

The elder son was still working in the field. After a hard day work, he returned home. Just before reaching the house, he heard music and dancing coming from the house. Being curious, he asked one of the servants what was the occasion. The servant answered, "Your younger brother from overseas has come home, and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf, because he was so happy to have him back to the house, safe and sound". Upon hearing this, he was quite disturbed and refused to go into the house. The father then came out and persuaded him to join them in the celebrations. He felt that his father was being unfair as he had been so faithful working in the fields, following every instruction for years and that his father had not celebrated in the manner as he did for his younger brother.

The older brother even accused the father that despite the younger son receiving his portion of his share of the father's wealth earlier, living in excessiveness, living in sins, and indulged in all the bad things while he was overseas, was so willing to slaughter for him the fattened calf and had a big celebrations.

But the father explained to the older son that his younger brother was once "dead" and now has come to "life", and he was lost and has been found and has returned home.

This story illustrates to us the extent of a father's love for his children. The father was willing to distribute the portion of his wealth to the son even though the time is not up yet. Despite of the son spending all his share of the money, not only in excessiveness but indulging in all the immoral activities. The father was so willing, without a slightest hesitation to accept the son back to the home and was so overwhelmed with joy that he even celebrated his son's return.

God's love for us is like the story above. We were once dead and lost but because of God's unconditional love, we are alive and now found in the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ..