The Lost Son – The Older Brother

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’ 28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’” (Luke 15:25-30 NLT)

Late one afternoon, a couple of years later, the older son came in from a hard day of work in the fields, and heard the unmistakable sounds of a party going on in the big house. There was music and dancing and a considerable amount of very good wine being enjoyed. His first question was, “What the hell is going on here?” When he found out his no-good brother was home and his father had thrown a party to celebrate, he was really angry! You know, I used to wonder “Who’s the good guy and who’s the bad guy?” There is no “bad guy” in this story!

There’s a younger son who was self-centered and irresponsible. But his father loved him so much he never stopped looking for him and praying for his safe return. This younger son is a little wiser now. The only thing he has to his name is the shirt on his back which his father just gave him a couple of hours ago.

There’s an older son who is responsible and hard working. He has done double duty since his brother left and has served his grieving father and worked to get the family estate back on solid financial ground. The place is doing really well and they all have the responsible hard working older son to thank for it!

And he’s so angry he won’t go into the house! I spent a couple of years behaving kind of like the younger son and if I’d had an older brother, he would have probably felt a lot like this guy when I got straightened out. Especially if there had been a party in my honor. Now after sixty-plus years of being the responsible one, I have to be careful not to get an older-brother attitude when people show up unannounced and become the center of attention. Don’t miss the party! The whole estate belongs to you!

Prayer:

Father, Thank you for all the years of such a great life since my turn-around! So many things I’ve had the privilege to be involved in and do! Help me not to miss the party because of an “older brother” attitude. I celebrate your mercy and grace! Amen!