The Older Son

We often read the parable in Luke 15:11-31 and give it the name ‘Parable of the Prodigal Son.’  It is only natural for us to focus on the wayward son and to imagine all the evils into which he fell.  We even can identify, however shamefully, with his self-seeking attributes.  And of course we can identify with his failures and the desire to seek the Father and His mercies. 

But let us look at the older son.  Perhaps we can identify with him as well.  And it may be that we can recognize behavior on his part that reminds us of many in our churches today—even ourselves!

Examine the scripture and see what we know about the older son.

He is the primary heir.  The older son, in the Hebrew tradition, would receive an extra share of the inheritance. In this case he would receive two shares while the younger son would receive one share.  This son should have a thankful heart.

He was with the loving father the whole time.  All the time that the younger son was traveling the older son was at home.  But he was not learning to love in the pattern of his father.  The father was watching, waiting, longing for the return of the youngest son, but the older son did not exhibit these characteristics.  The wayward son returned and the older son did not even know it.

He worked in the field.  He found a way to serve his father by tending to matters in the field.  Perhaps this ‘busy-ness’ accounted for his lack of knowledge as to what was going on.  He was too preoccupied to learn from the father.  He had evidently convinced himself that he was fulfilling all that the father desired.

He became angry. There is no joy in his life.  It must have been that he felt that he had earned rewards from the father.  He wondered how the father could waste his resources on “this son of yours” when he, obviously, deserved the rewards.  He cannot even bring himself to call the younger son his brother. 

He claimed that he deserved a party with friends, yet it is not likely that he had any.  The older son shows all the characteristics of a lonely, unfriendly, preoccupied man who does not seek the company of friends.  He believes he is self-sufficient.  He has not followed the example of the father.  He should be overwhelmed with joy at the return of his brother.  He, too, should have seen the brother returning from a great distance.

What do we learn from this?  I’m afraid we can see some of us in this story.  I think of many churchgoers who never seem to learn from the Father.  We are often too content to attend church once a week and think that we have fulfilled all desires of the Father.  We are not longing to learn from Him.  We become oblivious to the needs of those around us—often giving a shallow greeting but not seeking to become involved.  If we were involved we would know their hurts, their needs, and their cry for help.

Above all, we tend not to learn the loving ways of the Father.  We should be ever mindful of the lost around us.  Reaching out to them should be a top priority.  We can do this through prayer, labors, and financial aid.  The body of Christ makes us one together, and we fulfill all the desires of the Father when we love one another. Then there will be joy in the house of the Lord (John 15:11-12).

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