Lost Things Part 2

There is a change in the parables - the first two are talking about something that was lost - the third parable is about someone who walked away and became lost…

Luke 15:11–32 CSB

11 He also said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets to them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living. 14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing. 15 Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to eat his fill from the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything. 17 When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.” ’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he summoned one of the servants, questioning what these things meant. 27 ‘Your brother is here,’ he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’ 31 “ ‘Son,’ he said to him, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

This parable is a tale of 3 people and their actions - the father, the older son, and the youngest

A prodigal is someone who is wasteful or extravagant

The youngest already had his father’s possessions, but he wanted to be free to use them as he desired

A breach in etiquette was perpetrated by the youngest for asking his father for his inheritance (before his father’s death)

The youngest son lost all he had to the world except one thing…

No matter what you have done, the Father is still there.

The son didn’t just take his inheritance early; he left home and went to a faraway land.

He didn’t just lose his money. He also lost his identity – a good Israelite, or good Jew, would never have dealt with pigs (they were unclean)

Broken, hungry, and humbled, the son went home – he remembered he had a father

Ever had a GPS lose signal (typical here in West Virginia), and it tries to recalculate…

The son tried recalculating his life based on his own direction and ended up at a dead end.

Remember this – repentance isn’t just saying, “I’m sorry.” Repentance is alos saying, “I’m going home.”

The Father runs to embrace you.

A second breach of etiquette was perpetrated, this time by the father, for him to run would put him in a position of humility (having to hike up the robes to run, showing leg = humiliating) – it would have been a scandalous loss of dignity.

The father ran so the son wouldn't have to walk through the village alone. In that culture, a son who wasted his inheritance would face the kezazahceremony—where the village would break a jar and shun him forever. The father ran to reach him first, taking the shame upon himself before the village could cast judgment.

The father's embrace wasn't just affectionate; it was protective. He used his own body and his own reputation to "shield" the son from the whispers and glares of the townspeople.

He didn't wait for the son to "clean up" first. He embraced the smell of the pig pen.

The Father celebrates when you come home.

How do we respond? We are all like the youngest son who wants to rebel and live our own life apart from the Father. At some point, we are all faced with a decision to stay in the world or come home to the Father.

There is another in the story we have not talked about…the older brother.

The elder brother’s problem wasn't that he stayed; it’s that he stayed for the wrong reasons. He saw his relationship as a contract , not a covenant .

The older brother has been there and has done all his father asked; there is nothing he needs, but look how he responds.

The older brother is upset because of the attention given to the younger brother.

The elder brother was "lost" inside the house. He had the father's presence but lacked the father's heart.

Last week we had the parable of the sheep that was lost out in the world… the younger son.

We also had the parable of the lost coin that was lost in the house… the older son.

Both were lost and equally unusable by the owner until found.

Religious pride is just as "lost" as rebellious living.

Are you more offended by the grace shown to others than you are grateful for the grace shown to you?

Don’t be like the older brother - rejoice for those who come home

The story ends on a cliffhanger. We see the party inside and the angry brother outside, but we never hear the elder brother’s answer to his father’s plea. That’s because youare the ending. This morning, you are either the younger son standing at the edge of the property, wondering if you’re too dirty to come in, or you’re the older brother standing on the porch, wondering if you’re too 'right' to join the party.

The Father is standing in the middle, reaching for both of you. He humbled Himself and ran to the one in the field, and He stepped out of the party to plead with the one on the porch. The question isn't 'What have you done?' The question is 'Will you come inside?' Today, let the 'Lost Things' be found, and let the party begin with you.