Loving the Unlovable

Luke 15:11–32 NKJV

Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’ “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”

An Unlovable Son

Ungrateful

Proud

Unloving

Irresponsible

Independent

Entitled

Rebellious

Stubborn

Demanding

Self-Centered

A Day of Reckoning

Sin is expensive.

He wasted his possessions (and life) with prodigal living.

Overwhelming tough times came unexpectedly.

He spent all that he had.

He had to work jobs that were hard and demeaning with little pay.

He had needs that no one would help him with.

When things start to go bad, they just seem to get worse.

Song: “Sin Will Take You Farther” by Harold McWhorter (1950)

As a child, I foolishly turned God away, Not knowing the heartbreak a sinner must pay, But God, in His goodness, has let me return, To share with His children this lesson I learned,

So with pleasure and promises, sin took control, Leaving me dying, with nothing to show, Gone were my loved ones, and my dearest friends, Only a Saviour could love me again.

Chorus: Sin will take you farther than you want to go, Slowly, but wholly, taking control, Sin will leave you longer than you want to stay, Sin will cost you far more than you want to pay.

He came to himself.

He got honest with himself.

He got honest about his situation and took responsibility.

He determined to get up and return to his father.

He had a repentant heart, confessing his sin.

He dealt with condemnation, no longer feeling worthy to be his father’s son.

He was willing just to be a servant to his father, a hired hand.

A Loving Father

He saw his son returning.

He had compassion on him.

He ran to him, embraced him, and kissed him.

James 4:8 NKJV

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

A Restored Son

Mercy: His father forgave him.

Grace: His father restored him

He restored him to sonship

He put a robe on his back. (Restored his dignity)

He put a ring on his hand. (Restored his honor)

He put shoes on his feet. (Restored his standing)

He celebrated his return.

Luke 15:23–24 NKJV

And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

An Unloving Brother

He was angry.

He refused to join the celebration.

He esteemed himself.

He condemned his brother.

He nurtured self-pity.

He forgot how blessed he was

He was not a prodigal.

He was always with his father.

He had lost nothing of his inheritance.

He was heir to all that his father had.

He did not share his father’s love.

God’s love is perfect and impartial. God’s love is redemptive. He does not love us because we deserve His love; He loves us because we need His love.

We are to love others, not because they deserve our love but because they need our love.

Matthew 5:43–48 NKJV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

The love of our Father God is measured by our love of our brother (or sister).

1 John 3:10 NKJV

In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

1 John 3:14 NKJV

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

1 John 4:8 NKJV

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4:20 NKJV

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

Response to the Word