Living In The Meanwhile

Meanwhile, the elder son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, and he asked one of the servants what was going on Luke 15: 25, 26 NLT.

I like stories that have surprise ending. Perhaps you have seen the movie, "The Sixth Sense". I’ve watched it many times, and I still feel the emotion of that doctor when he realized what was going on. The ending went back, cleaned up and tied together every loose thread; and it made you say, "Wow, that was really special".

This is a story that Jesus told. It is about rebellion, redemption, love and forgiveness. It is the story that we traditionally call, The Prodigal Son". We’ve heard this story many times, and we know it very well. It is about a son that told his father "give me my portion". But things don’t go so well, and he ends up in a pigpen. He realizes that everything he ever wanted, he already had. He wonders if he can ever have it again; even a little of it. So he goes home to find his father waiting to restore all. He ends up with a ring, a robe and a party.

We want to leave it there where it ends happily. The Message bible says, "Though you end up in the pigpen, you can go home". But Jesus didn’t end it like that. The story is not just about the younger son, the forgiving father and the feast. Those are important parts of it, but there is a twist at the end.

You see, the father had two sons. "Meanwhile" the older son was in the field. He was working dutifully in the fields. When his shift ended and he came near the house, he heard all the singing and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. "Your brother has come home" he replied, " and your father has killed the fattened calf because he came back safe and sound." The older brother got so mad, he refused to even go into the house see Luke 15: 25 – 28.

We know a lot about the younger son, but there was another son living there. He was living in the meanwhile. He was a blood son and the traditional heir to everything, but the servants knew more about what was going on than he did. He went to work everyday, but he hated every minute of it. Just because we are in the house doesn’t mean we are in the house. Just because we are in the family doesn’t mean we are in the family. Just because we are in the church, doesn’t mean we are in the church. We may be living in the meanwhile.

Let’s back up a little. Jesus actually told three stories. You see, the Pharisees, all dressed up in their religious outfits, had criticized Jesus because publicans and sinners gathered around to hear Him speak. So Jesus told of a shepherd who went over hills and valleys to find one little lost sheep. He talked about a woman that lost a coin in her house, and searched and searched until she found it. Each time the obvious message is, "Wouldn’t you do the same thing?"

But the next time, instead of ending with a party, Jesus introduces a son that was living in the meanwhile. And in doing so, he invites the Pharisees to take a serious look at themselves.

That’s what this story is all about; about looking at ourselves. It is not about telling someone else they can come home, but about looking at ourselves. It is for the obedient sons and daughters who never left home. It is for church going folks that do their duty in season and out of season. It is for elders, missionaries, youth workers, choir members, worship leaders, and tithe payers. They perform their duty, but they are living in the meanwhile.

On the outside it appears that we are doing everything so well. But meanwhile something is happening. We feel overworked and undervalued. We feel like we are doing all of the work and others are getting the reward.

Let’s go back a moment to the younger son. It must have been a deep shock to the father when that son looked in his eyes and said, "Give me my inheritance because I want to leave". He may as well have said, "Daddy, drop dead". But the older son was no better. He told his father, "You never gave me anything; not even a little goat (and you have thousands of goats). You’ve never done anything for me".

This had been a long time coming. It didn’t happen in a day or two. It is the results of years of meanwhile living.

We can be surrounded by the best of everything, and all the while a deep blindness can grip our souls so that we can’t appreciate anything. God blesses us abundantly, but all we can see is what we don’t have. Just like our parents in the garden; God gave them every tree but one. Instead of celebrating for all they had, they grew bitter and ungrateful over the one tree they didn’t have. Pretty soon they were convinced that God was holding out on them.

We need to watch out for an attitude of ungratefulness, discontentment, pride and disobedience. We can be clocking hours of service for the Lord, but in the meantime we are becoming an arrogant Pharisee or an ungrateful older son. While living in the meanwhile, we experience lack in the midst of abundance.

The father came out and pleaded with his son. He did not threaten him or scold him. He pleaded with him; ‘My son, you are always with me. All I have is yours". He should have known, but he didn’t. If he only knew, he wouldn’t defy his father; he wouldn’t insult and disrespect him. Not many fathers’ would come out and plead with a child.

I have pictures of my daughters when they were small. I had so may hopes and dreams for them. But the day came when those little girls had to stand for themselves. They had to choose their path and walk in it. That’s the hardest thing; to give and give and make great sacrifices, and still face the reality that your child may miss it. They live with you for years and watch your lifestyle. You teach them the way of salvation and how to make wise choices. Yet their success depends on how much they remember in the meanwhile. The younger son said, "My father has food to spare", and the older said, "You never gave me anything.

God loves each and every one of us. His purpose for us goes far beyond our personal happiness or religious duty. This life is not about us; it’s about God. It all starts with Him. And anytime we make our own ambitions the primary pursuit, we are living in the meantime.

By: Edmund Brown