#prodigalgod

Following the observation I made in Part 1, that both brothers represent the flip side of the same coin in respect to misplaced desires, I found the same holds true regarding their judgments.

After the prodigal son enjoys partying his way and eventually hits rock bottom, he thinks to himself, "It would be a lot better back home with my father, even if I was a servant." His reasoning indicates that he doesn't believe he is worthy to return to his father in the capacity of a son. Instead, he believes that his father's love can be won or lost, depending on his actions. He judges himself and determines that he is only worthy to be a servant.

Likewise, the older brother is convinced that he has somehow earned his father's love. He judges his younger brother saying, "I can't believe you're throwing a party for my brother who wasted his inheritance on prostitutes!" At the same time, the older brother reckons himself worthy of his father's gifts and love. After all, he "never disobeyed orders" and was "constantly slaving" for his father.

Both brothers cast judgments independent from their father's perspective. Their judgment are based on false introspection and shallow comparisons.

Making judgments based on comparison gets us in trouble every time.

It's like trying to construct a building on constantly shifting ground. 

I've been quick to judge others far too many times, and usually what I'm judging them for is a mirror image of the same darkness in my heart or actions. We aren't called to judge but to believe, to trust, to love.

To build something that lasts, you have to build it on solid rock. This is only possible when we see ourselves the way God sees us, when we believe in his love for us, and accept others with the same love that God accepts us. God's love is perfect. It's unshakeable.

God didn't reject the younger brother, so why should we? 

There are two ways to miss out on the party:

By thinking we deserve a party compared to others

By thinking we don't deserve a party compared to others

The thing is, God's the one throwing the party, and it's not just for the cool kids. It's for all his children, just because he loves them. 

I'm currently part of a men's fellowship group that's going through the book Living in the Light of the Gospel, and the first part of the book covers the Prodigal Son Parable. Last night, during our discussion of the parable, a new meaning jumped out at me.

I was struck by the idea that both sons really represent flip sides of the same coin. Both of them had their minds set on something other than a relationship with the father. They were both more interested in theirs rights as sons, their entitlement, than their identity as sons.

The younger son wanted his inheritance earlier than he was supposed to receive it. He took it and squandered it on what he thought would be more fulfilling than staying at home. Those desires proved empty.

The older son stayed home, but it doesn't appear that he was ever really content with being there. He was jealous that his brother squandered his inheritance and then received even more gifts upon returning home.

Meanwhile, while both sons were looking to superficial desires, the father was desiring a relationship with his sons. The father responds to the older brother's frustration by saying, "you were with me" all this time. In other words, "wasn't being with me enough?"

The older and younger brothers represent different ends of the spectrum of misplaced desires.