In the story of the Prodigal Son, the elder son was us. The elder son stayed home. He mad no demands, did his chores, and sought to impress his father. He never offered to look for his brother. He was content to bask in his father's good graces. Yet he was not perfect. When his brother returned and his father forgave him without condition, he became enraged. He stomped home to discover a party when he had hoped for a trial. He refused to come into the house, to sit with his brother, to celebrate his redemption. He turned his back on his brother and his father. In the end, the son with his back to the father resisting grace is the elder son. He becomes the prodigal.
When the father tried to convince the elder son to join the celebration, he responded, "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." His response exposed his heart. His obedience and work were not motivated by love for his father. His hope was that he would be rewarded with a party for himself and a few friends.
Is our obedience and work motivated by love for our father or are we looking for a party for ourselves and a few friends? Are we, as the elder brother, living in the father's presence without ever appreciating the father's character?
The father responds to this ugly revelation with grace. He says to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found."
The father is as gracious to the elder son as he had been to the younger son. He left the party to seek him.
Jesus doesn't tell us whether the elder son repented and returned to the banquet. Jesus leaves that for us to resolve. Will we turn from God and his grace or will we join the party?
Joining the party requires forgiveness. We elder sons find forgiveness so hard to accept from God and so difficult to extend to those around us.
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