My reading of Luke this morning took me to chapter 15. The three parables about being lost and then found. I’ve often said that God is the ultimate champion at hide and seek. He is the seeker of all seekers and will always find us. In the familiar parable of the lost (or prodigal) son, I found myself thinking of my two sons. How I love that my oldest one won’t leave the house without hugging me and telling me he loves me. How I love that my youngest son silently observes and will work out things in his mind without much help. Yet among all their differences, their attitudes can be so similarly sinful. Their behavior (reflected from their attitudes) will likely be shown in different ways, but the underlying problems of pride/control/selfishness are eerily identical.

In the parable, the younger son tells his father to give him his inheritance only to go off and squander it. When the money runs out, he finds himself starving, sitting with the pigs, and willing to humbly go back to his father to work for him. The younger son doesn’t seem to even count himself as a son anymore based on the fact that he is merely going to ask if he can be a hired worker. Then the scene of all scenes (at least the way I imagine it), “…while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him” (v20). If one of my own sons left on the terms the younger son did, would I welcome him back so eagerly? As the parable continues, the older son is found sulking once he realizes the younger has returned and received such a warm welcome. Jealousy raises its ugly head and I even think of an abundance of times I’ve witnessed one of my boys envious of the other. But here again, the father approaches his son (the older one this time) with compassion. He pleads for a change of attitude and says something that was so deeply affectionate. In verse 31 the father says, “Son (“child”), you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” 

The thing about parables is the punchline is often at the end. The punchline indeed knocked me off my feet. The reminder to the older son is what God offers to his children- everything. There isn’t any benefit God withholds from his children. We all identify with each brother at different points in our lives. When we lean into our sinful flesh, pull away from God, and find ourselves separated from our Father- we are the younger son. When we feel like we are doing enough and letting pride fuel our obedience- we are the older son. But in this parable, the father loves both sons. He longed for one to come home and longed for the other to have a proper view of his love.

After reading and mulling over this beautiful picture of familial love that Jesus painted, I pray that I can love my children the way I am loved by God. I long for them to find their home with Him and I desire them to view His love rightly. I pray they would be able to see a reflection of His love in my attitude, desires, and behaviors. Lord, help me love them deeper and guide them with the grace so freely offered to me- because once I was lost, but now I’m found.