When he came to his senses...

"But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.” ’ So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him."

(Luke 15:17‭-‬20 )

The story of the prodigal son is a famous one. Many sermons has been preached about it and many books has been written about this powerful story. The story has three main characters: The father, the younger son and the oldest son. Many things can be said about the father whom, in this case represents our forgiving God, and many things can be said about the oldest son as well.

 

On this particular message, I would like to draw your attention to the youngest son and the attitude he chose to have. We can divide this subject in three parts: The attitude before his departure (12-13), the attitude before his return (17-20a) and the attitude after his return to his father's house (20b-21). Notice his attitudes before and after his return are almost identical with one exception. The son leaves out the expression "make me as one of your hired men" when he comes home. Why? It's because of the father's attitude. The father comes running to him out of compassion, hugged him and kissed him. He was really happy to see his son back regardless of what he had done.

I don't know about you but maybe, in my sanctified imagination, the son probably thought he had lost his father's love, but boy was he wrong! Since his father was showing all kinds of affections to him, there was no doubt in his mind that his father still loved him and that he made him feel he was still his son. In other words, it's like the father abruptly interrupted his son's return speech and those words were no longer needed because the father's affection was so greatly shown.

Now, let's talk about this son's attitude. When he came to his senses:

1. He realized how good he had it.  

     Nothing works better to teach our souls than going through tough situations that have been caused by our poor decisions. Suffering indeed is the best school. Suffering, whether it's caused by ourselves or an outside source, leads us to have a better perspective. What it originally was nonsensical and boring, now all of a sudden, it's the best thing you have had.

     In his father's house, he enjoyed comfort, provision, protection and the best of all, a constant reminder of his father's love. When he decided to leave, and after he squandered all of his money in frivolous and sinful things, his world changed and now he wished he were back in his father's house enjoying all the comforts it could provide. Look what he says from verses 17b to 18a: "How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father...". We can see here something about his father. "His hired men had more than enough bread". In other words, he treated his workers well. How much better would he treat his son whom he loved deeply? You see, he realized real quickly, after he ran out of money, that his father's workers had it better than him now. He was so hungry that he could  eat pig's food, but not even that was provided to him. We must value the things that God has provided to us in His loving kindness. Money won't last forever, but His loving kindness endures forever. We must appreciate what we have now because we'll never know when it could change. We must know that God "will meet all of our needs according to His riches in glory". Let's not make any hasty decisions without even contemplating pros and cons, and even without prayer. The grass is not always greener on the other side. It surely wasn't for the youngest son and there's a possibility it can't be greener for you either. Let the father's will be upon our lives and our own hearts and let Him guide us into what he has prepared for us. For sure, after the youngest son went through poverty and hunger, he truly appreciated what His Father's home provided to him. He truly learned a powerful lesson!

2. He realized how sinful he was. (21)

     Next, the son first thinks what he wants to say to his father (18) and then, when he sees him, he says it: "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight". (21)

     The expression "I have sinned against heaven" lets us know that he was aware he was sinning against God for he was violating one of God's commandments, "Honor your father and your mother" and he was sinning against his own father because, in those days, asking for an inheritance before his father's death, was pretty much saying: " Father, I wish you were dead". Imagine how devastating the father must have felt when he received such a devastating and uncaring request from his son. When we rebel against God, the Bible says we grieve His Holy Spirit (Isaiah 63:10). And that rebellion can take many forms. It could be, like in this case, disrespecting your parents. It could be performing various acts of immortality. It could be using your words to curse and not bless, to destroy and not build up. You get the idea. There are many ways we can offend a Holy God. We must walk in a manner worthy of Him; not perfectly because of the sin that is in us (Romans 7), but with a willingness to walk in the Spirit more often than we do in the flesh. And when we fall, let's quickly repent and ask for His forgiveness (1 John 1:9). The quicker we realize there's sin in our lives, the quicker we should come to our Father, who is in heaven, to receive the forgiveness our souls need to be comforted.

3. He learned humility. 19

     "I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.” 

    First, we can see his humility and shame when he says: "I am no longer worthy to be called your son". He felt so ashame for what he had done, than the thought of still being considered a part of the family was a foreign concept to him, much less still being considered a son. You could say that he had greatly repented for the odious thing he had done to his father. Sometimes, we too behave this way. We commit a horrible sin and then, we drown in the lake of shame not ever expecting to be forgiven. We feel devasted, ashamed and with no hope of ever being a part of an unbroken relationship that it used to be. But, we have a forgiving God who awaits for us with open arms if we repent and humble our hearts before Him.

    Second, we can see his humility by him not seeking to be in a place of honor; rather, he was content just by being one of his father's hired men. After all, he treated them very well because "they had more than enough bread". What a picture! Sometimes we need to hit rock bottom in order for us to appreciate what we do have in the present time. Sometimes that is what's needed. Especially in today's world, when entitlement seems to be the name of the game, the attitude of the youngest son, that is after he repented, should be a wake up call for people who feel they are entitled to everything. Interestingly enough, this son had an attitude of entitlement when he requested his inheritance. But, he had to go through a myriad of trials to get to the breaking point and finally, repentance.

   Personally, I have been there. Both, on the entitlement side and the repentance side. But, there's nothing more humbling and refreshing to my soul than receiving the sweet embrace of my Heavenly Father when I've come to repent for what I have done. Not only that, it is also sweet to be able to count on people that gently and lovingly rebuke you for the sins committed. Of course, this would only be sweet when your heart is in the right place with God and a wave of healing has started to come in to you. Otherwise, you'll be bitter and unwilling to receive the rebuke. 

   The story of the youngest son should be a constant reminder than nothing material lasts forever and counting on that would only drive us to disillusionment and dismay. Also, it teaches us that the father's love is available to us when we decide to "come home".

   Friends, let's not be a prodigal. Instead, let's be an obedient, respectful and open soul that wants to have a right relationship with our Heavenly Father. Working and growing in that relationship will be the best investment of your life. I truly believe so. You have a great day!