The Father's Care for the Wayward Son
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The Father’s Care of the Wayward Son
Luke 15:11-24
There are some things that are integral to this story that so apply to our lives that makes it one off the favorite of many of us. The Lord knew that which would connect with mankind and this parable is one of them.
The parables are what we could a story or an illustration - which communicates some truth or doctrine. They almost always come with an interpretation right with it. The Interpretation of the Scripture is always vital.
In this instance, there is not, but the context of the verses that precede this passage as well as the parable itself is very eye opening and obvious to even to new student of the Word of God.
This passage is an amazing passage because while it has one primary interpretation, it has many applications that we can use in our lives. This morning the title of the sermon is THE FATHER’S CARE OF THE WAYWARD SON - and we are looking at it from two perspectives, first the relationship of the heavenly Father and his children as well as the relationship between the parent and their child.
LET’S PRAY!
I. The Good Story Turned Bad
I. The Good Story Turned Bad
When I say a good story turned bad, I’m not saying that God’s Word is the problem or that that the story is in error. But it is one that started with a lot of potential.
It was no different here.
And he said, A certain man had two sons:
That is a wonderful thing. Two sons. Two gifts from God.
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Every child born is a gift, none of the are the same, as a snowflake is different so is every child. Their personalities are different, their abilities are different, their potential is different.
So it is for the child of God. No doubt that everyone of us are different -
No doubt that his parents rejoiced in both of their sons. Each of them had potential and I believe they both lived up to what their parents had generally expected of young men until they become young adults.
A. A desire of good
A. A desire of good
In every life there is the potential of great things for God. It is the hope and desire of every parent as they bare, raise, and nourish their children, that they would do well with their lives.
Can I remind our parents that you have a three fold expectation and hope for your children that is right before God:
1. Raise them to love God
1. Raise them to love God
That includes:
Leave them an example in your life of loving God.
Of Faithfulness to have daily devotions
Of Faithfulness to church
You have heard of this in the last generation or two of people who say “I can worship God anywhere, you don’t need church to do that.” While it is true that you can worship God anywhere, but there is a command of God not only for personal worship but also service in church.
Did you know that there is not command in the Bible for the church to worship when they come together. But there is several examples of and commands of coming together with one mind, one heart, one in prayer, one in outreach, one in preaching and teaching.
Of realizing that God’s purpose for their life is the best purpose
2. Raise them to to be self-sufficient
2. Raise them to to be self-sufficient
Raise them that they would be able to provide for themselves.
3. Raise them to be a good spouse and parent
3. Raise them to be a good spouse and parent
That they would be prepared to be good husbands and wives.
4. Raise them to be good citizens
4. Raise them to be good citizens
B. A division within the family
B. A division within the family
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.
Nothing generally hurts families as fast as envy, pride, and money. Envy and pride are subjects I will hit in other messages soon, but don’t forget the danger of money.
We live in a day of plenty. In this parable, the man with two sons was a man of a certain amount means. He had enough that when the younger son demanded it, he gave him his portion of his inheritance - or a reserve that father had held for him and allowed him to have it.
Just a reminder, that giving our kids too much is dangerous for them.
I have an extended family member, I won’t describe who they are further than that - but who sat at a table and told me years ago, that they knew that they gave their children too much - and that as a result their children did not appreciate what they had been given.
The children actually loved the money more than the parents. Today, not long ago their child said this, “I’m just in my parents lives because of my inheritance, otherwise I cannot stand them.”
The love of money and things in society is hurting our children.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
We need to remember as parents, that is a dangerous thing to give our children everything. Many of us come from poverty or from something near it. We remember in my generations all the steel mills shutting down, the good jobs at the factories disappearing. The car manufacturing plants going overseas.
So maybe you were raised with a little less, do you think that it was bad for you or did it make you learn to work harder and to apply yourself.
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
In September we are starting our Hope fo the Home Series in our afternoon services and one of the major subjects will be finances and teaching our children what they are for, the value of working hard, and how to care for these things in our lives.
This young man loved money more than God, more than his father.
C. The departure of a son
C. The departure of a son
Every parents should desire that their children leave the home and become self-sufficient and make something of themselves.
But it needs to be on the right terms, at the right time, and the right mind-set.
A son or daughter who goes out to marry with your blessings; or is working and will provide for themselves - and is faithful to their parents and church praise God for that.
But this son wasn’t leaving right, he left to “live it up.”
The Bible even says in vs. 13, “took his journey into a far country and there wasted his substance with riotous living.”
People who do not earn a living waste their living.
I don’t care if it is borrowing money for school, living off of free money from the government, winning the lottery, or some type of law suit, if you don’t earn the money or you haven’t learned the value of earning and spending - that money will usually be wasted.
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
Young people must have instilled within them the value of work.
This young man did not have it. And therefore, with his money in hand, he went out, and rather work more and earn more, than than investing it, or saving it, he wasted it.
And He was popular - man, people loved him while he was living that way.
The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
But when the money was gone, when the popularity from the money was gone, everything changed.
II. A bad story gets worse
II. A bad story gets worse
Can I remind you that sin always leads to sorrow. That disobedience leads to discontentment. That self-promotion leads to self-loathing.
This young man thought he had money and time to spare and time to make it up. Instead, he had wasted all his money and then things got hard.
When you build your life around money and the money is gone, then you lose everything.
Friends are lost, family is angry, sorrow ensues.
Then came a famine, he wasn’t ready for that either. Then, he began to be in want v.14.
So, he go a job, but not just any job, but one feeding swine. He had about the lowest honest work you could find in society. The Bible says that he was so hungry, that he wished that he could eat the husks, the debris that was fed to the swine.
III. A remembrance of the love of his father
III. A remembrance of the love of his father
Oh friend, I hope you do not hold a grudge against your parents, I hope you don’t hold a bitter heart. God says to forgive them and to honor them. Not every relationship can be restored - there has to be repentance - but you can forgive them and appreciate them for what they gave to you.
They gave you life, they provided for you, they gave you a roof over your head and food to eat. It may not have been what others had, but is what they could give.
This young man remembered his father well.
In verse 17, he remembered how good his father was and what he had provided for him and what he was doing even for the servants of the household and how good he was to them.
And oh, the importance of you and I remembering the good things our heavenly Father has given to us.
A. Remember that your God loves you
B. Remember that your God gave to you
C. Remember that your God wants you
IV. The Father Never Moved
IV. The Father Never Moved
The Bible says in verse 20, “While he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”
There is a great simple two fold application.
A. He Stood firm and taught right principles
A. He Stood firm and taught right principles
Long after their mistake, long after their youth, our children will remember where you stand.
Parents, and especially fathers, never give up on your kids.
Trust in God and raise those kids for right and for God. Not for self, not for society, But for God.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
While Proverbs 22:6 is not a promise, but is a principle that we Believing parents should raise our kids by.
B. He did not give in to the Young Man
B. He did not give in to the Young Man
Parents should not change their holy convictions just because their kids don’t like it. But, he did allow the young man to make his choices when he became of age.
Every parent must raise their kids to be able to make good and godly decisions. They must be trained to properly make decisions. But then there will be a day when they make some that you cannot allow in your house.
His door was always open to the young wayward son, if he ever wanted to return. He would except him back if he would repent.
They will make mistakes, so did you. But you don’t let them make major mistakes while they are living at home.
Children were given parents, a mother and father to raise them, protect them teach them,
V. He waited for the Son to Repent
V. He waited for the Son to Repent
And oh, how great was the repentance:
Some times I read these verses and it brings tears to my eyes:
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.
The son was at the end of his roper, - at wits end, he had no where to turn but to the one that whose love had never turned away from him.
Parents, kids don’t always please us, but we need to love them anyway. Because that is what God did for us.
You see mankind has sinned against the almighty God.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
We are all sinners, and each of us have to return the Lord personally.
No can return for you, no one can be saved for you. You cannot be born into a church or baptized unto God. You must return to God from your sinful condition like the Prodigal.
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.
That is repentance. It is laying yourself at the mercy of the Lord, and saying to Him my Lord and my God, taking the Lord as your Savior and your God.
The Father’s Care of the Wayward Son