Big Brother Attitude

UV 3595/10000 Big Brother Attitude But the elder brother became angry and deeply resentful and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. Luke 15 v 28 The story of the prodigal son often leaves out the focus on the story of the elder son. The father in the story represents the Father in heaven that Jesus was introducing to the world. The elder brother instead of joining the father in welcoming back a long lost son and brother, a member of their family is angry and resentful. He was not even willing to join the welcoming party hosted by the father on the happy occasion. The elder brother represents those who think they are always on the right side of God, who do their religious and moral duties and obligations. The Father in heaven is standing at the door of heaven ready to welcome back those who repent like the prodigal son, return to Him and turn from their wayward ways. He rejoices over the repentance and returning of every lost sinner, however evil or wayward they were as long as they turn from evil, from stubborn disobedience of His word. He rejects the self righteous who believe they have a right to be in heaven by virtue of their apparent moral or righteous lives. We have, therefore, to get rid of the ‘big brother’ attitude and always depend on the love and grace of the Father in Christ. Jesus is the One pleading with the Father to let us in. He is the One who chooses us and not we ourselves. The elder son was envious and resentful of the way the son whom he thought unworthy of the father’s love was received. He reminded the father that he had never celebrated his coming home on any occasion like this. He had not allowed him to take of the flock a young goat to celebrate his righteous and obedient life with his friends with a party at home. He held this grudge against the father in his heart. We, too often think of people who in our view are unworthy of being blessed but are greatly blessed. We envy those who are more talented or more popular or more prosperous than us. Such envy, scripture warns us, is the root of bitterness that choke the good seed of His word and makes our lives unfruitful, our character bereft of the sweet fruit of the Spirit of God. The two stories or the story within a story drives home the truth that It is better to have erred and repented than to be self righteous, proud and resentful.