The Other Prodigal Son

Men are notoriously bad at asking for directions when they’re lost — I can say that because I am one!  We make up excuses like we’re not really lost, just taking the scenic route!  Or, it’s not the destination that’s important, but how you get there!  Whatever way you spin it, not knowing where you are is the same as being lost.  And for someone who doesn’t even know that they’re lost, it’s that much harder to tell them that they’re going the wrong way.

In Luke 15, in the story of The Prodigal Son, most people focus on the lostness of the first son, how he turned his back on home and went off on his own. They rightly point out how he lost everything before he finally came to his senses and returned home. But there’s another son in the story who I believe is even more lost than the one who ran away, the older brother. He’s the one who stayed home when the younger brother took off; he’s the one who continued to work and do what was asked of him while the other left not caring what would happen; he’s the one who never abused his authority but always followed the rules. And yet if you pay close attention to the end of the parable, it’s clear to see that the older brother is on the outside of the celebration looking in, but certainly not wanting to go in. He is standing outside of fellowship with his father, and for that reason alone should be considered lost.

How do you give directions to someone who doesn’t believe that they’re lost? That’s a great question, and one that we’ll address this Sunday as we continue our look at the parable of The Prodigal Son(s). Our gathering starts at 6pm — hope to see you there.

Pastor Mike