Luke 15:11–24 KJV 1900

And 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 falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet 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 unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, 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.

RETURN TO SENDER

"Return to sender", a phrase used when undeliverable mail is processed to be sent back to the indicated return address.

Romans 14:11–12 KJV 1900

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Elvis Presley

Six weeks before he died, a reporter asked Elvis Presley, "Elvis, when you first started playing music, you said you wanted to be rich, famous and happy. Are you happy?" "I'm lonely," he replied.

What Makes People Satisfied?

What really makes people satisfied with their lives? Amazingly, the secret may lie in a person's ability to handle life's blows without blame or bitterness. These are the conclusions of a study of 173 men who have been followed since they graduated from Harvard University in the early 1940s.

Where Is Happiness?

Happiness is not found in pleasure, Clarence Macartney said.

Lord Byron lived such a life if anyone did. He wrote, "The worm, the canker, and the grief are mine alone."

Happiness is not found in money; Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that. When dying, he said, "I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth."

Happiness is not found in position and fame; Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote, "Youth is a mistake, manhood a struggle, and old age a regret."

Happiness is not found in military glory; Alexander the Great conquered the known world in his day. Having done so, he wept in his tent because, he said, "There are no more worlds to conquer.'"

Introduction: Naomi and Ruth expound on the story...

“The only place you start at the top is digging a hole.

Exodus 18:9–12 KJV 1900

And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. And Jethro said, Blessed be the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them. And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father in law before God.

Moses out from Jethro just him his wife and son, look what the brought to pass.

What the enemy meant for evil, God turn for Good.

The prodigal son actually went out empty God see things different than the world.

Luke 15:12 KJV 1900

And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

He went out with the wrong bitterness, pride / He came back with love and a repentance in his heart.

He went out worldly friends and people who only sought to use and take advantage of him.

But came back to the people that really love him, cared for his soul.

3. In God eyes success and happiness is measure differently.

Conclusion:

I’M THAT CLOWN

It is said that in a great city there was a physician famous for his wisdom. A man came to him one day and said, "Doctor, I want you to see what is wrong with me."

The doctor checked him over and said, "Your heart is all right. Your lungs are all right. Your blood pressure is normal. But you look as if you are run-down and tired, disillusioned, and unhappy. You need to do what I did. Go out to the circus in town this week and laugh at the famous clown with his funny mask, his big shoes, and his slapstick! He is hilarious! I went and I laughed and laughed! I prescribe for you a visit to the same circus. Sit for two hours and laugh at that clown, and you will forget your troubles and have a happy heart."

The man said, "Doctor, your prescription won’t do me any good. I AM THAT CLOWN!"

How many people put on the happy face for others.........when deep down their hearts are empty. Only Christ can fully satisfy the heart of man.

Sinner friend you need to come back to God.