2018-02-25 - Abundance - Generosity to the Younger Brother – Part 2

When we study the parable of the two sons one big surprise we may come up with is how similar the two sons really are:

Both reject the father,

both are interested only in their own agenda and not their love for their father

~the father reaches out to both of them

What does our church consist of? Will I be attracting younger brothers or are we full of elder brothers?

Part two of the story is why he is telling the story because it was the Pharisees who complained -> “this guy welcomes sinners & eats with them!!

The other brother is furious with the compassion of the father in bringing him back. Putting on the robe and the ring is now telling me that he is getting back his portion of inheritance. The diminished portion - the portion that the older brother had coming to him!!!

Does not treat father with respect.

Joyless fear-based compliance. Look at what I have done. I have earned more than you’re allowing me.

All these years I have been slaving for you. It is all duty there is no love

Why should we be honest?

It’s good for business

it wins respect it’s good for you

What happens when being honest is bad for you?

What happens when being dishonest is extremely beneficial for you

There is a radical self-centeredness of our hearts. Being a Christian with wrong motivation is one of the worst things there is. The elder brother is only being moral and good for his own benefit. He might be kind to others and helpful to the poor but only to benefit himself…

The story of carrot

Both brothers actually end up being very similar… Both brothers are estranged from the heart of the father; both brothers want what they want and for the father to do with they want

One rebels from the father by being extremely bad the other one rebels against the father by being extremely good. Doing everything right so he can demand what he feels he deserves.

They both are lost sons. Neither one loves the father just for who he is. Each one wants only what he wants from the father

Even though the elder son is so incredibly rude to his father in his rage. The father still responds with pleading and kindness and earnestness to please come and join the feast. And the whole audience is listening carefully to find out how this will end. Will the older brother turn and change his mind and go in? Will he turn and walk away? And suddenly the story ends.

And suddenly we are left with this wondering feeling. What is going to happen? What is the elder son going to do? Is he going to soften and respond to his father’s love or is he going to stay angry and walk away? We are waiting to find out, but the story is over and it is then that we need to realize Jesus is talking about you and me. How are we going to respond to the love of the Father for us?

2 conclusions:

1. examine your own hearts for elder brother tendencies. We need to make a daily practice of repenting from our elder brother

2. rejoice at the return of the younger brother

3. Love our Father for who he is!