Measuring your worth in God's Eye's

Measuring Your Worth in God’s Eye

In my study for this weeks message I was introduced to a man by the name of James Kosta. At the age of 13 he was making $1,500 a month as an IT Consultant. With pockets full of cash and plenty of friends, he began to skip school. Then his parents issued him an ultimatum. If he wanted to live under their roof he had to give it all up and focus on school. (age 13)

Kosta reacted by legally emancipating himself from the custody of his parents.

Very soon, Kosta’s Computer skills attracted the attention of hackers. Together they hacked into major Computer Networks such as General Electric and IBM. At the age of 14, he was arrested by the FBI. Since the emancipation, he wasn’t technically a child. So the FBI charged him as an adult and was sentenced to prison for 45 years.

His story doesn’t end there, but it leads us into our text for today, the Story of the Prodigal Son.

In this parable we see the response of 3 different people. The Younger brother who wanted to carve his own trail in life, with the help of his inheritance at an early age; the Father, who longing kept waiting and watching for his prodigal son to return; and the Older brother, who was faithful to his father, but became envious about how his father treated his younger brother upon his return.

The Prodigal Son...

The first thing we learn about this son is his desire to be independent. His attitude represent those who say, I don’t need you dad, I can make it on my own. But before I go, give me what I think you owe me.

Many times in life, God’s creation; you and me, think we can make it on our own, without God’s help. We move towards independence, forgetting that what we have really isn’t ours, but it belongs to God. What we think we own, is really only on loan. But God, in his patience, grants us our space and allows us to try to walk the path of life on our own, until we come to our senses and realize, that without him, I’m really nothing.

This son is called the prodigal which means to spend money or resources freely and recklessly, wastefully extravagant. In other words he has lost all sense of reasonableness and responsibility. He wanted to do as He wanted, when he wanted, and how he wanted. His Way. He squandered his wealth in lushes living.

It is symbolic of how society is today in regard to how we have crossed God’s threshold of ethical and moral righteousness and standards, simply to pursue our own pleasure.

But look at what happens to him… He ends up with no real friends; he hires himself out to one of the lowliest jobs a Young Jewish man could have and that was feeding swine… pig, which to the Jewish people was unclean according to God’s standards.

His pleasure only lasted for a season, because he lost everything. He longed just to fill his stomach with the pods he was feeding the pigs!

Then (vs. 17) he came to his senses… look at the servants of my father… they have all they need. I will return with a repentant heart, even if it means being one of his servants. Anything is better than this.

To think independently of God leads us down a path of destruction. Instead of drawing near to God we seek other people and other ways to find satisfaction and contentment.

Isaiah 53:6

Isaiah 53:6 NIV

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

To think independently leaves us spiritual empty… Jeremiah 2:13

Jeremiah 2:13 NIV

13 “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

What we think is right in on own only shows us how depleted we really are without God.

The more we strive to satisfy ourselves the more we sink into degrading personal conditions. Revelation 3:17

Independent thinking is wrong. There are seasons and reasons in life that we have to think and make decisions independently from our parents, leaders, and children. But there are no excuses for thinking independently of God.

A life independent of God is actually a life separate from his love, fellowship, and authority. In fact, true independence comes only when we totally and voluntarily surrender ourselves to his will.

God is a lover and a liberator, and surrendering brings freedom, not bondage. – Rick Warren

The Father

Here is what one author wrote…

The father, because of his experience, knows two things. First, he knows that the son, given the maturity level and the character with which he left home, is bound to fail. He knows that if the son ever does come home, it will probably not be as a successful businessman, but more likely as a beggar.

The second thing the father knows is that the village will not treat him well. Since his departure, all the townspeople have told him openly and repeatedly that he should not have granted the inheritance in the first place, that this son is a rascal, and deserves nothing short of death.

He knows that, if the son ever does return, the first person who sees him will quickly pass the word that this pariah has come home and a crowd will gather and likely begin to mock and spit on him, if not hurt him outright. He knows that the son, in order to get home, will have to endure the scorn of the crowd with every step he takes through the village.

The father knows this.

But here is what is great about the Father and our God...

He is waiting patiently to show his son that no matter what the past has been, He is there in love, filled with compassion, because he knows this young man was created for more than just himself and self pleasure. He was created for significance; with purpose.

The father does five things that would all be considered outrageous in Middle Eastern society. They’re all designed to protect and restore this son that he loves so much; this son who has turned away from him, rejected him, and wished him dead.

The first thing the father does is, he runs.

When word comes to him that his son has been seen on the outskirts of the village, the father runs to him. Can you see why this is so significant? Instead of letting his son run the gauntlet, the father runs the gauntlet for him.

It’s an outrageous thing he does, because a nobleman with flowing robes never runs anywhere. He lifts his robe, exposing his ankles, and runs down the road, through the village, in front of all the villagers. He humiliates himself.

A modern scholar writes this: “It is so very undignified in Eastern eyes for an elderly man to run” (Leslie Weatherhead).

But the father does. And Jesus explains why. He says, “But while he was still a long ways off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him” (Luke 15:20).

He was filled with compassion for him. That’s how the Father feels about his children. He has compassion on us.

The second thing the father does is, he kisses his son.

The text says, ”He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him”

The Greek word used here to describe what the father does is kataphilew. Literally it means, “to kiss again and again.”

The Son’s plan was to Admit his guilt and ask to become a servant in his father’s household.

Now, look at the actual speech when it comes out in scene three. The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be your son” (Luke 15:21).

What’s missing from the speech?

His request to become a servant.

Why is it missing?

Because he’s overwhelmed by the father’s love.

His plan was to earn his way back into his father’s favor. He never intended to ask his father to accept him back just as he was. How could he do that?

But when the father runs and kisses him, how could he not accept the father’s love for a son?

But that’s what God love is and does… it accepts us back just as we are. We are to come to him with a repentant heart and set our minds on Him. He will do the work necessary in our lives for us to know the fullness of his grace and mercy and to know for certain we have a place in eternity with him. … which leads us to the 3rd thing the father does....

The third thing the father does is call for a robe to be put on his son. Imagine this. Here are his exact words: “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him’” (Luke 15:22).

Question: who owned the best robe in the family?

The father.

The father and son are still standing on the edge of the village, and the father wants the whole village to know that he has accepted his son. So he sends his servants to get his own best robe so the son can wear it as he walks home through the village.

Amazing, isn’t it?

The fourth thing the father does is call for a ring. “Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet” (Luke 15:22).

The ring is probably a signet ring. It’s the ring the father would use to sign all documents, which means the son is a trusted, empowered member of the family. The sandals are a sign that he is a free man, not a servant. Servants didn’t get shoes. They walked barefoot.

Finally, the father says, “Bring the fatted calf and kill it” (Luke 15:23).

Not the fatted goat or sheep or chicken. The fatted calf. Why a calf?

Because a calf had enough meat on it to feed the whole village.

Do you see what the father is doing?

He’s inviting the whole village to share his joy. He doesn’t want the son only to be reconciled to him, he wants him to be reconciled to the whole village. He wants everyone to have a relationship with his son.

In everyone of the parables that Jesus was telling the religious leaders of the day was there is celebration over finding one who is lost.

Which brings us to the third person in the story…

The Other Son...

The Older son is said to be the symbol of the religious leaders Jesus is talking to. He was angry for what his brother did and how his father is no treating him.

He looked at himself as the self-deserving son because he did everything right, so he thought. The fact is, when we think ourselves deserving, we have probably served with the wrong motive.

Because the Other brother views his own righteousness as superior to his brother, he showed contempt.

What all people need to know and remember is that we are all sheep and have fallen away from God.

God is the Shepherd, looking for us to humbly return with a repentant heart and he will graciously forgive us.

Jesus is saying, “The younger son understands and accepts that he was far off and has been found. He admits he was lost. The father comes out to him and outrageously welcomes him back into the home. The older son is far off, too. And he’s proud, because he knows he’s not really all that bad of a guy. He’s mad at the father, so he refuses to come in. The father comes out to him in just as much humiliation as he comes out to his younger son. He talks about rejoicing and asks the son to come in. Does the son come in? Do you come in?”

See, the point of this story is that the father loves all his children so much that he is willing to suffer and be humiliated in order to bring us home.

AT the beginning of this message I started to share the story of a young 13 year old boy who was earning $1,500 a month as an IT guy. His parents gave him and ultimatum… to give it all up or he could no longer stay under their roof.

He sought emancipation from his parents and won. A year later he found himself being tried as an adult for computer hacking and was sentenced to 45 years in prison.

The Judge, however, wanted to give him a second chance. He ordered that Kosta be sent to the Juvenile detention center, instead of a maximum security prison and suspended his sentence on the condition that he will not commit another crime and join the Military when eligible. Kosta was released after a year and joined the Military. Later he was recruited by the US Army, the Navy as well as the CIA to help them trace crimes committed using Computers around the world. Long story short today Kosta runs the multimillion-dollar game development firm known as 3G Studios. A huge part of his company is focused on teen mentoring for troubled youth. Kosta will not be who he is today if it was not for that Judge who gave him a second chance.

As I close this message, let us remember that the body of Christ is the only place where sinners will find their second chance. So let’s not deprive them of that gracious opportunity by being judgmental of them. Instead, I want to encourage you to receive those who come to the church family with great joy because we can’t forget the fact we owe our righteousness and salvation to the Lord who loved us and died for us.

God is the Father of all… if you have been someone who desired to be self sufficient, independent of God and are wonder where you stand with God today, he is call you to come to him with a repentant heart. He will hear your cry and come into your life. He will cloth you with the finest clothing and give you all that you need to find fulfillment and significance in life.