Sons of the Father prodigalson.txt
All these comments are fascinating but my thoughts have been trending another way lately. The Prodigal received forgiveness and grace - his initial thought was that if he confessed his sin he would get something to eat.
But the Father forgives and blesses him before he can get the words out - the robe covers his guilt, dirt and shame, the shoes show he is no longer a slave (slaves were not allowed shoes to keep them from running off), and the ring was the authority of the family name given to him.
The older son sought to gain grace and approval (and a goat to cook) through hard work. I think many of us as Christians begin to question why our (material) prayers aren\'t answered and two of the answers we come up with are that we aren\'t doing enough \"good stuff\" (older son) or that we are sinners (prodigal son).
The Father\'s reply fascinates me [paraphrase] \"Son (child) you are always with me and all mine is thine.\" In other words, as a child of the Father everything the father had was available to the older son in the same fashion as forgiveness was available to the prodigal -- without doing anything, without \"deserving\" it. \"Here it is; it\'s yours. Partake of all that I have,\" says the Father.
I\'m beginning to work on an article that I\'m tentatively calling \"the Spirituality of Abundance\". While I fully realize that, in this life, we are not to be controlled by money, is it wrong to participate in the Father\'s abundance? Not according to the Father\'s own words.
Neither the Prodigal\'s sin nor the older son\'s hard work and obedience seemed to matter to the Father when it came to participating in the Father\'s abundance.
Think this through in steps: 1) in John\'s letters it says \"see how God has lavished his love on us that we should be called Children of God. Beloved, NOW we are Children of God.\" 2) In Psalms it says \"the earth is the Lord\'s and ALL it contains\" and 3) the Father said to BOTH his sons (one in actions and the other in words) \"All that is mine is thine\". The conclusion is that the riches of the earth are my Father\'s and therefore MINE.
So why did the older son seem unable to participate in this abundance? Look at his complaints -- \"you never once GAVE me an animal so I could have a party with my friends\" -- but how did the Father give abundance to the Prodigal?
He commanded his servants \"Quick! Bring . . .\" -- Hebrews says that angels are ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit the kingdom. I believe the older son did not participate because he kept waiting for someone to give him something. I think all he had to do was reach out and take what he wanted; the Father seemed to assume that was how things worked!
How much are we missing in life because we do not take hold of the abundance of God our Father -- not because we get a prize for being a repentant sinner nor because we have worked hard and feel we\'ve earned something -- but simply as Children of a kind, gracious and loving (and wealthy!) Father?
|
- Prodigal Son David Rogerson Monday, October 17 2022 9:50 am
- prodigal son by Marianne Balog Wednesday, June 9 2021 9:09 pm
- Message by Mark Eugene Lee Monday, January 1 2024 1:34 pm
- My opinion Laurie Monday, July 27 2020 10:06 am
- the prodigal son Chad Thursday, July 6 2023 3:36 pm
- Prodigal Randy Saturday, November 25 2023 6:41 pm
- moral Nikki Wednesday, February 24 2021 2:23 pm
- Who owned what? Hazel Gilliland Monday, June 3 2019 4:28 pm
- Prodical son:Hazel Gilliland by Rev Siva Moodley Wednesday, April 22 2020 11:36 am
- the celibration we might never have lance convey Sunday, July 28 2019 4:27 pm
- The One Parable Skip Brown Friday, July 30 2021 2:58 am
- Prodical son's brother Mary Tuesday, October 29 2019 10:54 pm
- The Prodical Son's Spiritual Warefare. by Omar Lammie Sunday, March 6 2022 9:21 pm
- the prodigal son delano Thursday, December 24 2020 4:54 pm
- Inheritance vs. property Will Monday, January 17 2022 9:14 pm
- Luke 15 SEINI Tuesday, September 19 2023 6:56 pm
- In the pigpen Kado Sunday, March 10 2019 1:55 pm
- A question about the prodigal son... Rae Tuesday, September 6 2022 10:35 am
- A response to Rae by John Ferguson Wednesday, November 11 2020 11:46 pm
- Rae's son by James Bachmann Wednesday, February 27 2019 4:29 am
- prodigal son sara Tuesday, May 17 2022 6:29 pm
- thank you cyndy Thursday, April 18 2019 12:57 am
- Prodigal Tom Thursday, May 20 2021 8:17 am
- prodigal son joe Wednesday, July 19 2023 7:48 am
- The Prodigal Son Rachel Friday, October 23 2020 4:10 am
- The older son Prof. M. Grahmonley Saturday, July 20 2019 12:31 pm
- Re:The older Son by Benjamin William Lohmer Wednesday, November 8 2023 11:05 pm
- reply to the older son by Stef Thursday, June 4 2020 9:16 pm
- Reply to Staying at Home by Alaska Man Thursday, January 25 2024 1:17 am
- Characters Andy Monday, November 15 2021 1:39 am
- sons vs. the father; parable vs. the teller DW Monday, May 4 2020 11:08 pm
- The Prodigal Prince Jim Bridges Thursday, January 11 2024 10:17 pm
- Parable of Prodigal Son Elaine Lim Wednesday, October 30 2019 6:14 pm
- Jungian Halley Willcox Monday, September 28 2020 11:47 pm
- thanks a lot greg Friday, January 4 2019 6:40 pm
- Google Search Rick Lambke Saturday, October 19 2019 11:16 am
- Prodigal Son by John Ferguson Friday, August 14 2020 11:01 am
- Stay with God Mark Sutton Thursday, June 9 2022 7:09 pm
- A lesson for parents? Kim Sunday, July 16 2023 5:27 pm
- Having trouble with this also re: older son Kim Thursday, August 3 2023 6:59 am
- Having trouble with this also re:older son by Rev. Tracy Foxx Wednesday, February 3 2021 7:18 am
- Homework Help! Mel Thursday, June 20 2019 5:04 pm
- the prodigal son Prater Sunday, January 29 2023 6:15 pm
- Another Prater by Prater Monday, December 5 2022 9:47 pm
- the prodigal son davobrian Thursday, November 3 2022 8:30 pm
- prodigal son by Philip Koh Sunday, August 7 2022 4:47 pm
- prodigal by charlotte Wednesday, April 20 2022 2:28 am
- Prodigal son by kishvara Saturday, October 15 2022 7:14 pm
- Sons of the Father Hal Sunday, March 13 2022 3:16 am
- Elder brother angela Tuesday, August 2 2022 10:09 am
- Prodigal Son CS Monday, February 14 2022 7:50 am
- PRODIGAL SON LE Friday, March 17 2023 2:35 pm
- PRODIGAL SON Patrick moo Monday, August 23 2021 5:28 am
- Deliver Elder Brother by A Wednesday, October 16 2019 1:24 am
- The Pigs Wendy Boss Tuesday, December 15 2020 9:51 am
- d= ue Sunday, January 16 2022 11:07 pm
- ring of reconcilliation christine roy Sunday, July 19 2020 9:22 am
- Prodigal Son and brother as relates to the church Roland Wilkinson Friday, April 22 2022 11:16 pm
- The LOST Parables Ben Monday, June 28 2021 10:31 am
- Insight about the the prodigal son Glenn Saturday, June 22 2019 5:48 pm
- prodigal son Janet Monday, July 31 2023 6:51 am
- prodigal son donna valley Tuesday, August 31 2021 7:47 pm
- the brother by joanne Saturday, July 9 2022 10:24 am
- thanks mohammad Thursday, May 27 2021 6:51 pm
- The meaning of the prodigal son Todd Thursday, July 27 2023 4:00 pm
- Prodigal Son DAN MANLEY Friday, October 18 2019 6:39 am
- Salvation by Marilyn Tuesday, May 21 2019 2:14 am
- About the inheritance Ade Sugeng Wiguno Saturday, October 14 2023 11:16 am
- Barabas Geary Smith Saturday, May 29 2021 11:54 pm
- Barabas by Robert Wilson Saturday, November 7 2020 11:31 am
- Barabas by Laura Saturday, October 31 2020 5:21 am
- Barabas by Deborah Wednesday, August 17 2022 5:52 pm
- Barabas by James Young Saturday, January 30 2021 5:37 pm
- The sandals? Leslie Wednesday, May 29 2019 2:56 pm
- The Sandals of the Prodigal son by Leonard Layne Thursday, December 24 2020 6:21 pm
- the sandals by Rev. Joe A. Burgos Friday, February 5 2021 1:16 pm
- Prodigal Son David Johnson Tuesday, April 20 2021 3:41 pm
- The FirstCommandment and the Second Ricardo Saturday, February 20 2021 5:37 am
- Prodigal Janice Thursday, November 16 2023 1:39 am
- An interesting angle of mercy and justice Gary Witte Monday, April 25 2022 11:22 pm
- Re: reinstating the younger son by heather Friday, January 12 2024 10:22 pm
- REPLY TO THE IDEA OF AN INHERITANCE by Bruce Potter Sunday, January 7 2024 1:03 pm
- Modernized Parable Rozilne Thursday, November 9 2023 5:52 am
- Modernized version by Heather Wednesday, May 15 2019 1:06 am
- One perfect response Dave Sunday, February 7 2021 7:28 pm
- research pete Wednesday, July 24 2019 10:10 am
- possible thesis angle by gerry c Wednesday, October 11 2023 3:34 pm
- the prodigal by sharon cargile Wednesday, February 6 2019 2:55 am
- We are wanted to be Highly Effective People GM Friday, November 12 2021 3:59 am
- what does the eldest son represent? Deborah Saturday, August 29 2020 9:32 am
- what does the eldest son represent? by jude24u Thursday, March 24 2022 1:05 pm
- the elder brother of the prodigal son by mimi Tuesday, May 14 2019 7:38 am
- who does the elder son represent? by Paul Victor Root Tuesday, March 22 2022 3:44 am
- Who was the elder son? "The Prodigal son" by Rev. T. J. Boully Friday, September 22 2023 12:41 am
- The ultimate sin, is sin against the holy spirit! by webmaster Sunday, May 28 2023 6:40 pm
- Prodigal Son KB- Sunday, August 13 2023 5:38 am
- Prodigal Son by Terri Pang Saturday, January 12 2019 1:56 am
- prodigal son by CH Saturday, May 30 2020 8:49 am
- Prodigal son Fred Kuypers Sunday, July 14 2019 6:40 pm
- History of People responsible for Prodigal Son Reema Saturday, June 11 2022 1:21 pm
- Pharisee and Publican by Ajo Mathew Wednesday, January 1 2020 4:03 am
- Parable should be called the forgiving father Frank De Gilio Wednesday, March 13 2024 9:58 am
- the prodigal son by rob Thursday, February 27 2020 8:52 am
- The Prodigal Son by Alex Tuesday, May 2 2023 2:27 pm
- The Third Guy Jack Tidwell Wednesday, March 18 2020 5:08 am
- seeking greater understanding of christs message peter redman Friday, June 16 2023 2:48 am
- Peter by tom Reilly Thursday, August 15 2019 11:22 pm
- Peter by tom Reilly Wednesday, September 8 2021 4:16 am
- Stay close to His Spirit. by Dan Tuesday, October 19 2021 8:17 pm
- Greater Understanding by Marie Thursday, April 23 2020 5:34 am
- a greater understanding by Marie Dzielak Tuesday, April 19 2022 10:27 pm
- The ring Sonny Sunday, August 16 2020 3:33 pm
- The Ring Darlene Moten Monday, March 15 2021 3:57 am
- Ring by Tod Sunday, March 24 2019 1:07 pm
- The FATHER not the Prodigal Son Sonny Sunday, March 20 2022 2:55 pm
- The Two Sons joshh Monday, October 9 2023 8:27 am
- healing the brothers' hearts... by Annie Hapeman Tuesday, February 12 2019 9:45 am
- The Two Prodigal Sons johnny groda Tuesday, March 19 2019 5:23 am
- Questions about the parable bob Wednesday, May 1 2024 5:03 am
- answers about the parable by Scott Friday, December 11 2020 7:06 am
- reply by Aida Wednesday, September 7 2022 9:46 am
- Prodigal Son by Tom Reilly Monday, March 15 2021 9:54 pm
- The Church is LOST for not making the connection by Eric Tuesday, April 2 2024 9:19 am
- 2 points Beth Friday, February 10 2023 5:04 am
- prodigal scott davis, sr Wednesday, November 13 2019 10:12 am
- The brother of the Prodigal Son John Sunday, December 8 2019 7:13 am
- Grace jeff clay Thursday, September 26 2019 10:32 am
- Grace by Dan Friday, February 24 2023 11:05 pm
- reply to grace by Young Breeze Monday, August 23 2021 8:02 pm
- The Prodigal Son never HATED his father! Webmaster Friday, October 9 2020 12:24 pm
- prodigal son - hatred etc by davd danze Monday, September 28 2020 7:25 pm
- old topic: the prodigal son never hated his father by FRANK FINK Wednesday, May 8 2019 1:04 am
- Coming Home Cornell de Korte Saturday, June 25 2022 3:45 pm
- coming home by a Tuesday, September 6 2022 7:20 am
- The name of the prodigal son? Jim Friday, October 9 2020 5:42 pm
- prodigal son's name by Liz Monday, September 13 2021 10:57 am
- the prodigal son's name by Scott Tuesday, October 27 2020 2:05 am
- His Name by Peter Thursday, March 7 2019 1:54 am
- name of the prodigal son by john Sunday, December 26 2021 4:34 am
- Name of the Prodigal Son by Anne Thursday, August 29 2019 10:20 pm
- Name of the Prodigal Son by Donimus Thursday, December 7 2023 10:11 pm
- Name of the prodigal son by john Wednesday, October 6 2021 9:24 am
- prodigal son's name by mark valentine Sunday, January 5 2020 7:16 am
- Prodigal son by jeff Tuesday, August 29 2023 2:40 pm
- Prodigal Church George Tuesday, April 13 2021 9:17 pm
- prodigal by Halley Friday, November 10 2023 7:15 am
- The non prodigal son Lucius Saturday, April 6 2024 6:24 pm
- the non-prodigal son by Paula Friday, September 13 2019 1:23 pm
- Thoughts on the non prodigal son by Pauline Sunday, July 7 2019 7:31 pm
- Elder Son by Megs Thursday, March 11 2021 9:51 pm
- The Prodigal Son's Elder Brother by Thinker Wednesday, January 8 2020 9:20 pm
- Elder's Need for senses by Jeffrey Sunday, May 16 2021 9:43 pm
- the prodigal son`s elder brother by Adeku Adelani Wednesday, May 19 2021 4:08 am
- the non prodigal son by Jan Tuesday, June 28 2022 4:04 pm
- the other son by Debbie Wednesday, June 17 2020 5:59 pm
- When it okay to say "What about me?" by Jeffrey Saturday, January 21 2023 4:46 am
- The "lost son": by KRIS BAILEY Sunday, July 2 2023 8:48 am
- Elder Brother by pauline thomas Friday, August 28 2020 9:09 am
- Prodigal Son by Phil Thursday, March 3 2022 11:39 pm
- The older son by Stephen Tuesday, March 24 2020 11:52 am
- Non Prodigal by ROBERT ROBERSON Wednesday, July 5 2023 11:11 am
- The Son that stayed at home by Nathaniel McCoy Tuesday, February 22 2022 9:06 pm
- The non prodical son by James Anderson Wednesday, October 19 2022 12:25 pm
- prodigal son by Daniel Monday, January 23 2023 1:23 pm
- This is such a neat parable Chrysoprasus Sunday, July 3 2022 10:37 pm
- lack of focuson the whole picture of this parable by kitt thompson Wednesday, May 1 2019 2:24 am
- Prodigal Son by john Thursday, March 28 2019 5:51 am
- As Sated by Edgardo Allan D.Maigue Sunday, September 27 2020 1:15 pm
- prodical son by Daniel Penn Saturday, October 1 2022 8:28 am
- The Prodigal Son by CARLOS Monday, January 1 2024 2:26 pm
- Gospels Vs. Letters by Michael McGhee Sunday, December 26 2021 9:46 am
- THE PRODIGAL SON by TRINITY'S CHILD Wednesday, September 16 2020 8:16 pm
- Children's Bible Stories by Chito Friday, November 15 2019 1:15 am
- request by REY Wednesday, January 10 2024 10:24 pm
🌈Pride🌈 goeth before Destruction
When 🌈Pride🌈 cometh, then cometh Shame