There seems to be a misunderstanding about this Story of an actual event, (“A certain man had two sons”) and an unmerited sympathy for the prodigal younger brother, whilst condemning the faithful elder brother!
Let us look at the facts; the elder brother was the faithful, conscientious, hard working son of his father, who had probably put most of the running of the estate in his reliable hands;
The younger son was probably a bit of a scapegoat, shirking his share of the work, sneaking off to spend time with his mates, while his brother covered up for him. He decided to “make a break” and leave Home. The father (perhaps reluctantly) agreed, thinking a time in the natural world might enlighten him.
So he got his inheritance, went off to a far country, found some false friends, and wasted it all on “riotous living”. As soon as his money ran out, so did his “friends”, and he was left with nothing, and got a job feeding pigs (especially abhorrent to a Jew).
Then he decided to return home and beg to be hired as a servant. The father grieved over his “lost” son and was overjoyed when he saw him, and called for a feast and rejoicing with music, neglecting to inform his faithful older son, perhaps having come to leave everything in his hands
How would you feel if you were the “elder brother”! Your “good for nothing” younger brother comes home after wasting his inheritance and a feast and musical is raised for him and nobody bothers to tell you, whilst you are faithfully hard at work running the farm? (Don’t be a hypocrite & say you would be glad).
Finally the father comes out, and listen to what he says; “SON, YOU ARE EVER WITH ME, AND ALL THAT I HAVE IS YOURS”, it was good to rejoice because your brother was lost and is found. (But the younger brother was in future entirely dependent on the charity of his elder brother).
I Feel that this message is specially for the children brought up in a Christian home, who have been taught the truth of the Gospel; don’t think that you can sow your wild oats and then recover your lost inheritance; true, you will always be received back into the Father’s house, “but for those who remain faithful, loyal, loving and true, there is a great reward~! 2 John 8 & other scriptures.
The case for lost sinners who have never heard the gospel and grow up in sin is entirely different, for to them is the promise of John 3-16!
May we all be faithful and true to our Wonderful Lord & Saviour, JESUS the SON OF THE LIVING GOD. Amen. (Alfred Curtis) 14/4/2022.
100 Bible Studies - Alfred Emmerson Curtis 