Where’s my Party? | The Older Brother (Luke 15)

Welcome to Real Life. It's not always fair.

"Resentment is an early warning signal

for needed change."

–Dr. Henry Cloud

“I totally agree with the older brother,” Jill told our group. Six of us were gathered around my kitchen table discussing the Parable of the Prodigal Son. “If we serve God our entire lives,” she said, “And then a mean and selfish person prays for forgiveness on his death bed, and God welcomes him into heaven—just like he welcomes you and me—it’s just not fair!”

The parable focuses on the younger brother. He demands his inheritance early, and then leaves home and burns through his windfall on wild living. Hungry, humble, and repentant, he returns to seek his father’s forgiveness. The father is waiting, not with a lecture, but with a loving embrace. The son whom he feared was dead has returned alive. He wraps his robe around his son’s shoulders, places a ring on his son’s finger, and throws a grand party. The entire household celebrates, minus one. The older brother refuses to join the festivities. He tells his father:

“All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!”

Is it fair? Honestly, there have been seasons when I have commiserated with the older brother. I tend to be the hard-working, responsible one. Others party. I clean up the mess. Where is my party?

When my responsible, disciplined life leaves me feeling angry and resentful, I have forgotten one critically important point. I need God's grace, too. When you and I begin to believe that our disciplined lives

earn

us a spot in heaven, we are believing a lie. We all need Jesus. It is by grace that we have been saved through faith.[1] Hard work and discipline won’t get us there. If it could, Jesus did not need to shed his blood. Grace is not fair. Hallelujah! For by his grace and faith in his Son's sacrifice, we receive what we don't deserve—forgiveness, salvation, heaven! This, however, is fair: God freely offers his grace to each one of us. It is up to you and me to receive this gift.

All these years I’ve slaved for you. What’s more, when my responsible, disciplined Christian life begins to feel like slavery, something is very wrong. Yes, our Father God calls us to live disciplined and obedient lives. Not to earn his love and favor, but because this is the healthiest, the whole-est, and the most blessed life he created us to live. Sin and selfishness destroy us. Our Father God, however, is not standing over us with a whip or shaking his head in disappointment every time we stumble. Rather, when we turn to our heavenly Father, he is waiting with open, loving arms. He is ready to richly provide all we need to live a godly life!

“My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours,”[2]
the father tells his angry older son.

The elder son had full access to his father’s love, wealth, blessing, and relationship. Did he enjoy it? No, he labored like a slave in his father’s house. Discipline and responsibility are good. But if we never allow ourselves to relax, and to enjoy our relationships with God and others, our discipline has turned toxic. It's leading us further away from our Father in heaven. You and I have full access to our heavenly Father's love, wealth, blessing, and relationship. Will we enjoy God? Or labor like a slave in his house? It is our choice!

Whether we relate to the wild prodigal or the resentful older brother, remember. Our heavenly Father's arms are open wide to us. Everything he has is yours and mine—love, grace, peace, forgiveness, righteousness, joy, and more. Let’s enjoy our God! He’s waiting. Will you join the party?

Oh, I'm running to Your arms,

I'm running to Your arms.

The riches of Your love

Will always be enough

Nothing compares to Your embrace.[3]

Dear heavenly Father,
Whether we’ve run far from you as a prodigal,
Or acted as the good, responsible child.
We all need you!
Teach us to balance work with rest and enjoyment.
And fully embrace the grace you extend to us.
Thank you for loving us well,
And welcoming us home
In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Take it further...

Read the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
Learn more about receiving the gift of God's grace and salvation through Jesus Christ by calling 888-Need-Him or visit Chat About Jesus.

Image by Canva
[1] Ephesians 2:8-9
[2] Luke 15:31
[3] “Forever Reign” by Hillsong (2010)

Peace on Earth | Luke 2

Welcome to Real Life . Got peace? And in despair I bowed my head: “There is no peace on earth,” I said, “For hate is strong, and mocks the song Of peace on earth, good will to men.” [1] It is Christmastime, a season of hope and happiness and...peace. Except this week, our peace was shattered when a school shooting left three dead and six more injured in Wisconsin. The perpetrator was a fifteen-year-old student who took her own life. This happened in a Christian school. A place where the true meaning of Christmas is known and celebrated. A place where faith, hope, and love are taught alongside reading, writing, and arithmetic. How could this happen? When our Savior Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, a heavenly host of angels filled the skies and declared, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace , good will toward men. [2] Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. He came to bring us peace. Of all places, a Christian school should be a refuge of safety and peace. But the reality is e...

Healthy Relationships: The Key to a Happy Life!

Welcome to Real Life . Got friends? “Friendship is born of that moment when one person says to another, ‘What? You, too? I thought I was the only one.’” –C.S. Lewis We are meant to live in community. God created us to need one another. You and I are not meant to travel this journey of life alone. Relationships are integral to a healthy existence. In his earthly ministry, Jesus surrounded himself with twelve disciples. They walked, lived, and served together for three full years. Of the twelve, Peter, James, and John became his closest friends. Jesus both needed and modeled healthy relationships. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends , for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. (John 15:15 NIV emphasis mine) In recent decades, our culture has shifted in some pretty dramatic ways. It has become more difficult to build and maintain healthy relationships. “Our ability to connect e...

The Right Plan | Acts 9

Welcome to Real Life . Whose plan are we following? “I'm sorry, did I roll my eyes out loud?” –Anonymous We are living in an era of anger and hostility. Someone aptly described it as the “age of outrage.” People are easily offended, and quick to cancel —punish, shame, humiliate, or terminate—those who offend. Outrage, of course, is not unique to our times. In the days of the early church, Saul of Tarsus was fueled by righteous indignation. He knew the Scriptures. He had studied the Law and the Prophets under Gamaliel, the most highly respected rabbi of the first century. Saul felt a personal responsibility to guard the Jewish faith and traditions from heresy. He considered the disciples of Jesus Christ to be dangerous and offensive. For he believed they were deceiving Jews with their message of grace, forgiveness, and salvation through faith in Christ rather than in meticulous obedience to the Law. He set out to cancel the Christians. Thus, Saul began zealously persecuting the ear...

Where’s my Party? | The Older Brother (Luke 15)