Belonging: Finding you Place
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11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”
Have you ever walked into a room full of people and still felt like you didn’t belong anywhere?
When I was a in Middle School, all those years ago, I distinctly remember my transition from Elementary School to Middle School. I remember I was MOST excited to have a locker. We didn’t have any in Elementary School and to me the thought of having my own personal locker was the coolest thing in the world. It reminded me of all the high school movies I would watch on Disney Chanel! I wanted to be those characters when I got to be their age. I was on the cusp of being those guys I grew up watching. Little did I know that Middle School would be a rude awakening for me. My one wish for the upcoming school year was to fit in, and be liked by so many people. I thought the things I was taking part in would get me what I wanted, I thought people would see my actions and respect it. During my seventh grade year, I started growing my hair out, really long, I did it because in the previous year one of my classmates who was on the spectrum was diagnosed with leukemia. This was an action that I thought would get people to like me (though the reason why I did it was and is true, I thought people would also respect me for my efforts and justified my actions) all it brought was a spew of insults, mean comments, terrible accusations, and self-doubt that none of you could ever imagine.
I looked around and saw students, classmates, friends, people who were in the same stage of life I was in and thought to myself: Why do I still feel like I don’t fit in? Why am I not anyone else enough to belong?
Maybe you feel the same way as I did growing up. maybe it’s not your hair like it was for me, maybe it is what you wear, maybe it is who your friends with, maybe it isn’t even school related, maybe its your home and how other perceive it, maybe it’s your own parents, maybe its your mom or dad who makes you feel like you don’t belong. Maybe its your hobbies, maybe they are considered weird and fresk-ish to the point where what once brought you joy you no longer want anything to do with.
The question I want you to ask is this: “Have you ever walked into a room full of people and still felt like you didn’t belong anywhere?”
During our time tonight we are going to discuss a story Jesus tells to people who will listen. He calls these stories “Parables” Have you heard of them?
Each time Jesus tells a parable, he is drawing something out. He is making a point known, he is making sure the people who are listening are understanding what he is actually trying to communicate.
In the parable Jesus tells tonight, I want you to see if you can find out the true meaning behind the story. The story is found in Luke 15:11-32. It says:
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25
What if the reason you feel so lost isn’t because you don’t have a place, but because you’ve been looking for it everywhere except the Father’s house?
Think about it in you context: isn’t it true that every time you try and find purpose in belonging in things other than Jesus you see a sense of emptiness?
It might be the boy/girl your dating, looking for a sense of love, a feeling that communicates to us that we are wanted by someone else. That we belong to and with someone else.
It might be that sport or hobby that you look to excel at, thinking that if you are going to be known for anything it will be the performance on the stage or under Friday night lights.
It might be your academic career, maybe you look for validation through your grades. If you can just get straight A’s then maybe you’ll belong in a group that will accept you.
Maybe you think you’ll belong once you have enough money to show everyone that you have made it in this world. Maybe you innocently work hard day in and day out to try and show everyone you have it all together.
Isn’t it interesting that though the son who left his father trying to find himself and his purpose in what the world suggested:
Wild Living = Lust
Wealth = Greed
Entitlement = Pride
Each time the Son tried to take control of his own purpose and tried to force himself to belonging in a crowd he was never designed to fit it, it led him to question everything.
Last week we talked about how we are not accidents, that we were created God’s image, we were created with purpose and community. That we were fearfully and wonderfully made in the likeness of God and his image. This week we have talked a lot about our purpose. What is it? What is our purpose once we have given our lives to Jesus? The story continues and the other son isn’t happy, we will talk about the other Sons response in a little while, but I want you to pay attention to the ending. I believe in this section we will learn what our purpose is as Christians, as people who adopt the same practices as Jesus should do when someone comes to Christ for the first time.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”
What if I told you that no matter how far you’ve run, no matter how many mistakes you’ve made, there’s still a place with your name on it waiting in the Father’s arms?
How would that make you feel?
When that special someone upsets you or worse, leaves you have a constant belonging to God who will always celebrate life with you.
When that sports game or hobby gets increasingly hard, or when you lose, or slip up, you’ll know that you still have and will always have a God that continues to cheer you on, comforting you in the hard times.
when that academic career takes you on a winding path, you start school with one thing in mind and switch it 4 or 5 time by the time you graduate you’ll have a God helping you guide your path for his names sake.
even when you have nothing, and have hit rock bottom like the Son in our story, you will always have a father who has a home that will forever and always accept you when you come home.
So what are you waiting for?
Come home to the father, if you are struggling to find purpose in your life, if you are struggling to find where you belong, let me make it loud and clear for you to here:
YOU BELONG WITH GOD.
And hey, if you have already come home to Jesus and accepted him into your life I charge you with this: Celebrate your brothers and sisters coming home.
And because you know that you belong with God, you have a commandment from him in Matthew 28:19-20
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Go and make disciples, Go and help your brothers and sisters come home. teach them to obey everything God has commanded you.
And don’t forget: God is with you forever and always to the end of the age because YOU BELONG WITH GOD.
