"prodigal": characterized by profuse or wasteful expenditure; lavish.
The Gospel of Luke 15:11-32
This is a profound story of the love of the Father for his sons. This is a contrast between two personalities; one faithful elder son and the other, a younger son, who is frivolous and cavalier. Jesus paints a vivid picture of the relationship of mankind as we ask for our "stuff: from God before we are ready (spiritually mature enough) to receive it.
When you peel away the onion, you uncover the haughty sense of entitlement from the younger son who demanded his inheritance before the fullness of time and set off to explore new horizons. This saddened the father, even though the older son remained home and served him working the fields building on his financial legacy.
How many of us are in the same boat? What void are you seeking to fill in your own life? What conflicts need to be resolved between you and your father (on earth) or your Father (in heaven)?
The younger son became consumed with himself and over indulgence of wine, women and song. After he wasted his entire fortune on sinful behavior, he was forced to work for a local citizen slopping his hogs. He even had to live among them and eat the scraps that the pigs ate. Think about that for a moment. Can you imagine the humiliation to have fallen so far as to have to battle hogs for scraps of food? This is a type and shadow of the life of a man that leaves the spiritual covering of his father in pursuit of worldly things. In the end, there is nothing but heartache and grief.
When the man comes to himself, he reflects on the goodness of his father and the peace of mind, love and protection he provided him. So he then sets out on his way back home. Avoiding loneliness and despair, he is energized because he is heading back to the strong, loving arms of his father.
When the father sees the younger son coming down the road to the house, he sprints to meet him before he gets to the house, welcomes him with open arms, prepares a fatted calf, dresses him in the finest robes and sandals and throws a party in honor of his return. When the elder son returns from the fields, he is angry and confronts his father. The older son exclaimed, "I never left you and remained here to work your fields and you never so much as gave me baby goat or a party."
The father looks at the older son and says, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours." Verse 31 in Luke 15, holds the key to the revelation of the power of "Son-ship" between God and His kids. Notice the the word "son" is in lower case throughout this parable until verse 31 where the word "son" changes to "Son." The Upper case "S" signifies a spiritual connection to Christ as "Son" of God and the sacrificial lamb for our access to eternal fellowship with the Father.
It is the heart of the Father that none should perish, but the choice is yours. Those sons that stray from Me are dead and not alive; lost and not found. But I rejoice in the fact that My Son has come home; he is alive and not dead and was lost but now is found!"
"Although there are many in My House, it's still empty without My Prodigal son."
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