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The story is found in Luke 15:11-32

“In the parable of the prodigal son is presented the Lord’s dealing with those who have once known the Father’s love, but who have allowed the tempter to lead them captive at his will.” – Christ Object Lessons, Page 198.2, Ellen G. White.

Luke 15:11-12 (KJV) – “¹¹ And He said, A certain man had two sons: ¹²And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.”

“The youth acknowledges no obligation to his father, and expresses no gratitude; yet he claims the privilege of a child in sharing his father’s goods. The inheritance that would fall to him at his father’s death he desires to receive now. He is bent on present enjoyment, and cares not for the future.” – Christ Object Lessons, Page 199.1, Ellen G. White.

The younger child does not recognize that everything the parent has belongs to him (Luke 15:31). Thus, out of greed and scarcity of knowledge or insight, he asks for his heritage to seclude himself from the household and live his life abroad. This entire earth belongs to us. God has offered us this world to manage it. Most of us don’t understand this, which is why we involve ourselves in scrupulous acts like fraud and diverse acts of vandalism to have a better living than other people.

Luke 15:13 (KJV) – “And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.”

One key phrase in the above verse is ‘into a far country.’ This phrase depicts how we run and hide from God, not realizing that He has the entire universe in His hands. The young son went into a far country, far away from his father, thinking that by going far, he would live a stupendous life, void of inspection and that he would be free to do whatever he wanted. If they were used to worshipping God on Sabbath and he did not like that idea, he sought to find a place where he would do whatever he wanted to do on Sabbath. He did not understand that freedom comes along with responsibility.

“Having obtained his patrimony, he goes into “a far country,” away from his father’s home. With money in plenty, and liberty to do as he likes, he flatters himself that the desire of his heart is reached. There is no one to say, Do not do this, for it will be an injury to yourself; or, Do this, because it is right. Evil companions help him to plunge ever deeper into sin, and he wastes his “substance with riotous living.” – Christ Object Lessons, Page 199.2, Ellen G. White.

“The Bible tells of men who “professing themselves to be wise” “became fools” (Romans 1:22); and this is the history of the young man of the parable. The wealth which he has selfishly claimed from his father he squanders upon harlots. The treasure of his young manhood is wasted. The precious years of life, the strength of intellect, the bright visions of youth, the spiritual aspirations—all are consumed in the fires of lust.” – Christ Object Lessons, Page 199.3, Ellen G. White.

God has given us the privilege to choose what is right and wrong, and each decision one makes has results. The proceeds are always in the form of blessings or curses. All the blessings you encounter come from God; if you obey Him, you will get more.

Most of the problems you are facing, you have brought to yourself. A good example is that you know you are having exams very well; instead of preparing, you resolve to drink with allies. The exam finds you unaware, you cheat, then you get caught and face dire repercussions. There was time and an opportunity to prepare for the exam, but you preferred not to prepare.

God has given everyone in the world resources to manage and designated these resources differently, all meant to serve His divine purpose. The quantity of resources does not matter; how you use them matters most. God gave Samson superior physical strength because He was the strongest man of all time. Not following God’s instructions led him to misuse his strength. God granted Solomon a great deal of wisdom because he was the wisest man to have ever lived, but he started worshipping idols.

Some individuals used to earn over 10 million dollar income per year and have ended up bankrupt because of reckless living. Others ascend from being homeless on the streets to being billionaires. How the younger son wasted his substance with riotous living is the same way we waste God’s resources.

We are excellent in wasting the time, energy, and money that God has given us to promote sin. A splendid example is how full nightclubs in cities are, busy wrecking people’s lives. In there, you are wrecking your health (both body and mental health), you are squandering time (because there’s nothing good that comes from there), and you are wasting financial resources (buying poison).

Some may argue that it’s just having fun and you only live once, but God has commanded us to do everything to His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). Ask yourself, when you are there, are you glorifying God? The devil has deceived us that a Godly life is boring and that for you to have happiness, you need to commit sin.

Let us use our brains and see which side is truly fun. When you go to a club, you see other people with expensive bottles of wine that you can’t afford; you covet, which eventually leads to depression, and most people have gone bankrupt and destroyed their health because of drinking.

All sins have consequences; even the ‘little’ ones that we think are ‘not so bad’ have consequences that go a long way that none can be able to fathom. A good example is holding a grudge against someone who has wronged you may affect you psychologically in that you cannot reach your full potential in your workplace, which affects the entire organization, and all fellow employees.

Remember that your fellow workers have families and other relations as well. Thus, by our unrighteousness, we end up messing up a really extensive network unknowingly. Life in God is always full of blessings because you lose nothing. Matthew 11:28 (KJV) – “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” There is a certain peace you encounter when you get saved. Rest is not sleeping. Many people sleep but cannot rest. True rest comes from God.

Luke 15:14 (KJV) – “And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.”

The above verse represents the consequences of sin. It also shows us that sin and error can never be eternal. Pleasures of sin last only for a season (Hebrews 11:25). The wealth that the younger son squandered lasted only for a season. When the wealth was over and famine arose in the land, the younger lad began facing the consequences of sin.

Luke 15:15-16 (KJV) – “¹⁵And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. ¹⁶And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.”

These two verses signify living hopelessly, awaiting nothing. The younger boy has reached a point where he feels that there is nothing more he expects in life. He just needs to survive, awaiting His death. Are you feeling that way? You need to remember that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Go to Him, and He will answer your cry.

The younger son cannot return to the father immediately because he is living with guilt and is unsure if the father will accept him after his actions. The devil wants you to live in guilt, having thoughts in your mind that it is impossible to be forgiven. Therefore, He uses guilt to torment you.

Luke 15:17-19 (KJV)–“¹⁷And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father‘ have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ¹⁸I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, ¹⁹And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”

Life in God is very fulfilling and full of blessings, even if you earn a small amount of money in your workplace (the father’s servants). When the younger son remembered this, he went back home. Afterward, he felt unworthy and humbled himself before his father. Whenever you go to God, always humble yourself.

Luke 15:20 (KJV) – “And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”

This is how God treats us when we form an absolute commitment to go to Him. God helps us in our spiritual progress even when it is problematic, and we don’t have the strength as human beings. The dad did not wait for the son to get to where he was. Instead, he saw him and rushed to him.

Once you pledge to stop a particular evil habit and involve God, God will work miraculously. God will move in your heart and transform it to an intensity that whenever you look back, you won’t believe that you were the one. God possesses the capability to transform hearts. Proverbs 21:1 (KJV) – “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will.”

God is a God of humility. That is why He requires us to have humility. If it was me, I would have waited for the son to come to where I am, made sure he begged for forgiveness, tried to make him feel what I felt when he did wrong, and maybe I still wouldn’t forgive him. God is not like us. He is faithful and just to forgive us no matter the magnitude of the sin when we confess (1 John 1:9).

Luke 15:22-24 (KJV) – “²² But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: ²³And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: ²⁴For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”

You may have lost your blessings, but once you go back to God, he will restore your blessings just as he restored Nebuchadnezzar’s (Daniel 4:34)

Luke 15:25-27 (KJV) – “²⁵Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. ²⁷And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.”

Luke 15:28-29 (KJV) – “²⁸And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. ²⁹And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:”

The elder son represents those people in the church who are full of politics, judgment and bringing in the past of a transformed believer. A good number of people in the church don’t believe in the power of God. They feel God only exists in the pages of the Bible and is not a reality in their lives. Such people often ask questions like, “how comes the church has given him the position of an elder and he used to be a drunkard?” or “How comes he is now a pastor, and he used to be an armed robber? Maybe he is just pretending so that he can steal money from the church safely.” Most of us, we have tapped our minds into negativism. We do not believe that it is possible for someone to change.

When we see a converted person getting blessings in his life, some of us get jealous. Not recognizing that the kingdom of heaven still belongs to us as it belongs to them.

Have u backslidden? Make a decision to go back to Christ and wait to experience blessings!!!

GOD BLESS YOU!

Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your endless love and mercy. Like the prodigal son, I sometimes stray, seeking my own way. Yet, You are always ready to welcome me back with open arms. Help me to use the gifts and resources You have given me wisely, for Your glory. Teach me to trust in You and find true fulfillment in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Activity

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Write down one resource (time, money, talent, etc.) that God has given you.

Reflect on whether you have been using it wisely or wasting it. Then, write one practical step you will take this week to use that resource for God’s glory.

Share your commitment with a friend or family member for accountability.

Author: Mark Alex   

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