A story about two sons (part 2)

But don’t miss the next part. Then came the older brother who had been working away on the farm for his father. He couldn’t understand what all the celebration was about. When he discovered it was to welcome home his foolish younger brother, he was furious. He refused to go in to the party. His father came out to persuade him – notice the father’s humility once again.

‘All these years I have worked hard for you. I always do what you ask. And you never even gave me a young goat for a meal with my friends,’ complains the older brother. ‘But when this son of yours (he refuses to say that he’s his brother) comes home after spending his money on prostitutes, you kill the special calf in his honour!’

Did he have a good reason for talking like this? No. The father loves him just as much as the foolish one. But he needs to see that being obedient and keeping rules without love can be a definite way to reject the heavenly Father. It is just the same as living in a foolish way.

Just two different ways of rebellion, that’s all. There was not one lost son in that damaged family, but two. And God’s attitude to us is one of love and welcome. It’s the same, whether we reject him by our cold, proud opinions of ourselves as we scorn others. Or whether we reject him by our selfish way of living as we want. What other faith shows you a God like that?