The Long Game

Introduction

In Luke 15, we get 3 parables about lost things. What is striking when we look at all three together is the value and ratio of the lost things.

1 out of 100 lost sheep; numerous resource, low value, but still sought and celebrated

1 out of 10 lost coin; less numerous, higher value, less replaceable, sought and celebrated

1 out of 2 lost sons; very limited (2), ultimate value, irreplaceable, sought and celebrated but still separated.

If we only consider the ration, it might make sense to re-arrange the parables

A 50% loss is something we all find unacceptable, and we are all looking

A 10% loss is something most of us would find unacceptable and we’ll look, but in the end, if we don’t find it, we can live with it

A 1% loss is something almost all of us would find as acceptable and we wouldn’t be looking for it

Based on just the ratios, we see God’s interest in us, as He is the lead character in each of these parables and He continues to look until He finds what, or who, was lost, regardless of the percentage.

But when we consider both the value and the ratio together and leave them ordered as Jesus did, we see that they paint a widening picture of loss from God’s perspective.

When we look at a lost person, we see 1 out of 100 (or, more likely, 1 out of several billion) which is not very valuable. God does not see that way. When God looks at a lost person, He sees 1 out of 1. Each loss is 100%.

Transition

Having talked about and around the parables, I’d like to dive into the third parable.

Illumination

Walk through the parable

The Father Moves In

One of the most striking aspects of the parable and the reason we are continually drawn to it, is the fact that the Father in this parable moved in to the relationshp

The Prodigal Son

Luke 15:20 NKJV

20 “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.

The Pious Son

Luke 15:28 NKJV

28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.

The Patient Father

For the prodigal son, he waited and watched

For the pious son, he approached and appealed

Conclusion

Jesus was teaching us about our Heavenly Father in this parable but He highlights something that is true of the best fathers and applicable to anyone committed to a relationship: you have to play the long game.

Children, and people in general, will not always do what you want. They may even do what you don’t want. They occasionally cause intense pain.

When that happens, we have two choices: we can move on, or we can wait until the opportunity presents itself to move in.

Our Heavenly Father demonstrated waiting for us so that He could move in.

Some of us either have had, or been, fathers who have waited and then moved in.

All of us face the prospect of being in that situation. The question that will dictate our response is “how much do I value that person and our relationship.” If you value them only slightly, you’ll move on. But if you value them highly, you’ll need to play the long game and wait until there is an opportunity to move in.