A Time to Come Home - A Tale of Two Sons

Introduction

Today we’re taking a departure from our study in the book of Ephesians to examine this very familiar passage of Scripture, known as the story of the prodigal son.

In keeping with our theme this year, the Title of this message is ‘A Time to Come Home’. But I’ve also subtitled it ‘A Tale of Two Sons’

Before I get into the message I want to lay just a little bit of ground work to set this up in the proper perspective.

The first thing that I want to stress is that both of these men - I’ll ascribe them as the younger and the elder - are sons of their father. This being said, I believe that the best illustration this could convey is that they are both Christians. Both were born unto their father, just as you and I (if you’ve been saved) has been ‘born again’ unto our Heavenly Father.

The younger son is often the focus and the elder forgotten - as twice as much is written concerning the prodigal, but both of them have a story to tell.

And their stories couldn’t be more different.

Finally, I believe that if we examine closely, we can see two different types of Christians in these two sons. And it’s there that I hope to present to you this message, and encourage you this Homecoming celebration, that it’s time to come home.

With that said, let’s look first at the Overt

I. The Overt

One was Derelict, the other Dutiful

As we look at these two men, we see the difference in their work ethic and laboring for the Father.

The Younger son thought it best to live off his existing riches, while the elder continued laboring for the Father.

There are some Christians who labor for the LORD. I’m thankful for that. What’s the saying ‘20% of the people do 80% of the work?’ It’s an honorable thing to labour for the LORD.

Jesus said: John 9:4 “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”

Every one of us has limited time upon this earth to make a difference for the cause of Christ.

The elder son was dutiful - he labored for the father. However the younger son was derelict.

Much like the younger son, many within the church today like to live off their existing riches. They’re comfortable with what their father has given them, it’s enough and they just live off that.

Too many Christians are SATISFIED WITH THEIR SALVATION, and care not for the work that there is to do at the Father’s House!

We see One was Derelict, the other Dutiful

One was Wasteful, the other Prudent (v13)

Next we see that the Younger was wasteful, the Elder was prudent

We don’t find the Elder son taking the goodness and the blessings of his father and wasting them - treating it as though it was refuse. Burying it in the earth. But that’s what the younger son did - which is truly tragic.

Jesus gave us many things, but there are two things the LORD gave in the book of Matthew that I want to mention here today:

Jesus gives a parable in Mat. 25:14-30.

It begins (v14-15)

We see the work of some (v16-17)

We see the selfishness of the one (v18)

The one - he took what his Lord gave him and buried it in the earth.

God has given many talents to many Christians - unfortunately, rather than used them prudently, they - like the prodigal waste it, and bury them in this world.

CHURCH, THERE IS NO ROI WHEN YOU BURY YOUR TALENTS IN THIS WORLD!

The second thing was Jesus gave a mandate: Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”

God has given each of us something - don’t waste what the LORD gave you by burying it in this earth.

One was Wasteful, one was Prudent

One Experienced Famine, the Other Fulness

Not long in his journey, the younger son began to be in want. So much so, that he was desirous of the pig food.

(Ill.) The other day, bro. Doug was here and told me that he’s got a hog & that if there’s any trash from the garden, that pig will eat. So I went and pulled up some stuff… stuff I wasn’t going to eat, and he said that hog was going to have a field day with it!

That younger son was looking at that pig food like it was fine cuisine. He was hungry!

The elder son, he didn’t have that problem. He was close enough to the father that he was full.

Church, the further you get from God, the more empty you will become.

And I’m talking about a variety of emptiness

Emptiness of Purpose, Joy, Contentment, Fulfillment - you’ll be empty!

One Experienced Famine, the Other Fulness

These are the Overt - Obvious differences between the two Son. Secondly, I want to examine the Obscure

II. The Obscure

obscure (def) Not easily understood; not obviously intelligible; abstruse

There’s something that is not as easily discernable between these brothers that we need to examine.

One’s Sin was Apparent, the Other was Not

It’s easy to look at the younger son and see his sin. The Bible speaks of it in such grand detail:

The younger was:

Selfish, wasteful, living a perverse lifestyle, intermingled with the world, dishonoured his father and family, disregarded his religious duty (to abstain from swine)

(Ill.) The equivalent to him today would be akin to a homeless addict who had everything, but rejected it, and wasted and ended up on the streets dirty & begging for food.

But I’ve got news for you - he wasn’t the only son who was a filthy sinner - the elder brother was just as bad - IF NOT WORSE! How?

The younger brother’s sins were certainly sins of the hands, but the elder brother’s sin was deep in his heart.

The elder brother was:

Self-centered

He wasn’t concerned for his brother

His brother was gone for quite some time! They considered him as dead! They expected to never see him again, and now he’s home where he belongs, and all the elder brother cared about was what the younger son got that he didn’t!

He wasn’t concerned for his father

This father went from sorrow to joy! Because he loved his son, he was joyous at his return! But seeing joy in his father didn’t sway him at all - because all he cared about was himself!

Angry without Cause

What did he have to get so angry about? Someone who he was supposed to have loved was alive and enjoying blessings? That’s an awful attitude - one that permeates America today.

Self-Righteous

He was quick to point out the sins of his brother, while judging himself righteous

Prideful

Along the same lines, he was prideful.

Remember the story that Jesus told regarding the Pharisee & the Publican - Luke 18:10–14 “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

The elder brother was behaving just like this publican. Self-righteous & prideful.

The Bible tells us:

Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, And an haughty spirit before a fall.”

Isaiah 5:15 “And the mean man shall be brought down, And the mighty man shall be humbled, And the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:”

This man’s sin wasn’t as easily identifiable. But you know, just like there are people just like the younger brother in the world today, there are people like the elder as well. Do you know what they look like? A lot like you and me!

There’s a lot of normal church folk that have the same sinful attitude that the elder brother had!

They aren’t concerned with the ones that have fallen into sin, they are concerned only for themselves.

They feel as though their sin is somehow better than the homeless addict - well I’ve got news for you, IT’S NOT!

The one’s sin was Apparent, the other was not - but they were both sinners

So we’ve seen the Overt, we’ve seen the Obscure, let’s look at the Outcome

III. The Outcome

As we consider these two sons, it’s important to see how they finished up.

You see, it’s not how you start church, but how you finish.

One was Repentant, the Other was Not

We see the younger’s repentance (turning; change of mind) in Luk. 15:17-19.

The younger son saw the error of his ways - and decided to do something about it. He said ‘It’s so much better at my father’s house! The servants have bread to spare! Man, I’ve messed up! I gotta go home!’

But what we don’t see, is the elder’s son’s repentance. Despite his father’s assurances and encouragement, he didn’t see the error of his ways.

Many Christians who follow in the footsteps of the elder brother’s sin, they feel much the same way. A feeling of entitlement & superiority - therefore, they cannot bring themselves to turn, as they feel they have no sin to turn from!

Let me say this: IF YOU THINK SOMEHOW YOU ARE BETTER THAN ANYBODY, YOU HAVE SIN TO TURN FROM! I am no better than you, you are no better than me, neither are better than the beggar on the street - Christ doesn’t love you more, He didn’t die for you more than He did anybody else - I AM WHAT I AM AND WHERE I AM BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND NOTHING MORE!

One was Repentant, the other was not - and because of that, one returned to the house, the other did not.

One Returned to the House, the Other did Not

By the end of the story, we find one son inside, and the other outside.

It’s interesting, if you only read the first part of this parable, you’d never think that the one inside at the end was the disobedient, younger son.

But here’s the thing: Do you know why? Choice.

The Father desired that both would be in there. He wanted both fellowshipping one with another and with Him - but only one chose to return home.

We see the Father’s Grace in the lives of both sons.

With the younger, the Father was looking for him. And when he saw him, he ran to him

With the elder, the father came out to him - he spoke with and tried to talk some sense into him.

Neither deserved it - but they had a Father full of Grace

Church, we don’t deserve the goodness of God. If God gave me what I deserved, I’d lift up my eyes in Hell - but thank God He’s full of Grace!

One Returned to the House, the Other Didn’t

One Ended with Joy, the Other was Left Bitter

When it was all said and done - one of these sons was left with joy, the other - bitter and angry.

(Ill.) Church, if you were to picture the end of your journey here on earth, what do you see? Close your eyes. What do you see? I’ll bet I know what you’re thinking - you’re thinking of some time in the distant future, you’re going to get everything straightened out. Everything will calm down & you can focus on your relationship with God. You’ve got time - but here’s the thing - what if you don’t? What if the final punctuation on your story is written today? Maybe not today, but this week? Do you want your final days to be outside the father’s house, or experiencing the joy that’s found within?

One ended with Joy, the Other was Left Bitter

Conclusion

Lost person let me ask you. Are you prepared to meet your God?