Hidden Sin Causes Big Problems
Luke 15: 25-32
And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found Luke 15: 31, 32.
The above section of scripture reports a wonderful scene. People in the community are having a wonderful time. There is celebrating and fellowshipping together because something marvelous has happened. In fact, this event is so incredibly special, that the fatted calf has be killed and prepared.
Never before has any news spread so quickly or joy shared so wholesomely. Everybody is happy. The entire household is on one accord; participating, giving, receiving and rejoicing. Everybody is happy except one person. He cannot find happiness because he has a big problem that prevents him from finding enjoyment in this occasion.
You see, the owner’s son has been missing. It wasn’t known whether he was dead or alive. He left home prematurely. Although it was against the better judgment of his father, the younger son left anyway. No parent wants his child to leave home too soon. Every loving father desires his son fully prepare himself, so that when he does finally leave, he will be able to make it on his own.
Up to this point, life had basically been easy for him. His father provided everything he needed. He was probably having fun. But when it came down to it, he did not have what it took to make it on his own. Therefore the younger son needed to come home; he needed to regroup. He realized that he had a lot more to learn. He needed his father, his family, his friends and his home.
Apparently the household community knew what happened. They felt what the father was going through. They had watched him for weeks; they saw him looking out over the fields; waiting and hoping to see his son. So when the young son showed up, the party started.
But the older son wasn’t happy at all. In fact, he was mad. When he found out what the celebration was about, he got in such a rage that he refused to show his face; and he didn’t care who knew it.
Listen. If we have family problems, we should keep it to ourselves and work it out. Don’t go public. Don’t let the world see divisions and schisms among members of the same household. Families should always be able to work out their problems.
It is true that the younger son made bad choices. He should not have left home. He should not have wasted his substance. He was guilty, and no one knew that better than he did.
But the older son was just as guilty as the younger son. It
may appear that the younger son was the troublemaker, but the self righteous and
prideful attitude of the older son was spreading like leaven. He was causing all
kinds of trouble in that home.
He claimed to be faithful and obedient when all the while he harbored hidden iniquity in his heart. He failed to see that his brother was repentant and brokenhearted. He could easily see the faults in others, but failed to see his own.
Jesus said that we should love our neighbors as ourselves. We will forgive ourselves and give ourselves the benefit of the doubt. Yet we will condemn our neighbor in a heartbeat. Judgment must start with us; we must treat our neighbor like we treat ourselves.
The father had worked hard to achieve success. His diligence brought him wealth and prestige. But he had some family problems that needed fixing. Strife and disharmony can divide generations.
There was division between the father and the older son. For some reason the older son was ungrateful. He did not appreciate and respect his father’s name. He went through the motions, but inwardly, he was very bitter. A simple look at how he treats his father says a lot how he felt. His father asked him several times to come into the feast, but he was so stubborn that he refused. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn’t listen Message Bible.
I can just see him shouting at his father, "All these years I’ve been here working for you." Some children are so ungrateful; they can never see how generous their parents are to them. That’s why the older son blamed the father for not giving him a party instead of searching his own heart to find out why he failed to ask. He felt like the father would turn him down, but his father wasn’t like him.
The older son was also unhappy with himself. He was miserable when he should have been shouting. He had a wonderful father, a good job and a secure future. He knew what to do and how to do it. It’s possible to go to work everyday, do a good job while hating every minute of it. But sooner or later, it will wear you down. Unless we get some resolve within ourselves, we won’t last.
There are many people who think that their job is more important than someone else’s job. No matter what our job is, we should work as unto the Lord and trust Him to reward us accordingly.
The older son complained that the younger son wasted the father’s money. I don’t know how much the younger son received, but the amount was likely equivalent to his age and maturity. There was no way that son could have made it very long. That’s why the father was looking for him everyday. It wasn’t like the younger son was returning for more money; he was returning to his place in the family. After all, he never lost it anyway. He just made some youthful mistakes and learned by them.
Notice that it was the goodness of the father that ultimately influenced the younger son to return home (see verse 17). Yet the older son was at home and missing it. He was glad the younger son left and hated it when he returned. He didn’t like him anyway. He disowned him as a brother, "This son of yours" Luke 15:30. It would surprise you what some people hold inside.
I don’t know what happened to make the older son so unloving. He became so bitter that he was unable to relate to people. He had no peace in his life and kept his family in disharmony. He was miserable and made life miserable for others. He reminds me of the Pharisees who refused to allow others to hear the good news simply because they didn’t want to hear it.
I am so glad that we can go home. No matter who doesn’t like us, we can go home. No matter who is praying against us, we can go home. Someone wants to see us in the pigpen; to see our life wasted on vain pursuits. But we can come home. God is watching and heaven is waiting to start the party. Now what are you waiting for?
By: Edmund Brown