"The Son Who Stayed"-Luke 15:25-32

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.’ ”

What life’s lessons can we learn from the son who stayed in his father’s house and worked the field?

- The son worked in his father’s field. Despite the many servants in the house which is an indication of his father’s success, he contributed to the work. All of God’s children most shared in Kingdom work. Use your gifts, talents and skills to the service of others and to the glory of God our Heavenly Father.

RESENTMENT AND ANGER

His feeling of disappointment disgust and anger cause him to refused to join in the celebration of his father joy of seeing his son again. The attitude of unforgiveness rendered him equally lost.- to his father’s love and compassion. We must forgive all who wrong us and don’t hold unto bitterness in our hearts.(Matt 6:15 -But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.)

COMPLAINING OR GRUMBLING

The son who stayed was filled with complains about how hard he worked or in his word “slaving for you” and never rewarded. We must served the Lord with Love because love is not resentful and does not rejoice at wrongdoing.

BLAMING OTHERS

The son who stayed blame his father for the bad behavior of his younger brother. Notice he call him: (But when this son of yours Luke 15:30.)

SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS

The son who stayed claimed perfect obedience to the father ‘s every commend and therefore desired. This attitude represented the Pharisees and teachers of the law who refused to accept Jesus and welcome others. Romans 3:23 says “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Despite our privilege position as Children of God we can missed the opportunity to join in the Heavenly celebration when other repent and join the family of God. We must be open and welcoming turning no one away who is seeking God.

THE FATHER’S AFFECTION

In this parable, we see the great affection of the father a representation our Heavenly Father for all His children, boys, girls, woman, men, old, young, regardless of our skin color or nationality. for John 3:16 tells us “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes on him may not perish, but have life eternal.” )

As the father reached out to older son inviting him to shared in his joy so is God inviting all of humanity through Jesus to come.

HOW WILL YOU RESPONSE?

Notices how the parable ends, we don’t know older son responded to his father’s invitation and explanation to come inside as part of the family and share in the joyous celebration. But we know that the Pharisees and religious leaders of Jesus’s days refused the His invitation to come and welcome sinners and tax collectors.