From Luke 15 Then Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.” So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” And they began to celebrate. ‘Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.” Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!” Then the father said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.” ’
The father gave generously to his son not because the son demanded his rights, but because it was of the nature of the father to give. He did not advise his son, did not intervene or interfere. It does not appear that he even communicated with his son. The father did nothing and simply let happen whatever was going to happen.
But then the Prodigal comes to himself. For whatever reason, love worked with the Prodigal Son.
Now, what about the Elder Brother? He had lost his sense of gratitude. And even though the father had given and given to him, the Elder Brother had begun to see life as what he had earned. So, how will the father treat the Elder Brother? In the same way he did the Prodigal. He gave. Son, all that is mine is yours. He gave.
We know that the father in the story is God, and this may be one of the most difficult truths of love for many of us to understand, to believe that God is a God of a love that does nothing - a love that gives, and then waits, and waits, and does absolutely nothing. He gives us the gifts of common grace, the gift of life, the gift of abilities, the gift of opportunities, and the gift of some very special people. And, He gives a visible demonstration of His love in the life of Jesus, loving those who rejected him, caring for the unconcerned, bleeding for the unbroken. God gives and then waits.
The way of love simply does not work for everyone. That is a hard truth. But the way of love is the only way that really works with anyone. And it is the way that God has chosen.
From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope March 22,1998
© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles
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