“Far From Home”
August 4, 2008
~~~~ONTHISDATE~~~~
the educational part of F4F
70 - The destruction of the second temple in Jerusalem by the Romans.
1693 - Date traditionally ascribed to Dom Perignon's invention of
champagne.
(...no one remembers for sure, along with
where they parked the carriage...)
1947 - The Supreme Court of Japan is established.
~~~~~WISEWORDS~~~~
“It’s so hard when I have to, and so easy when I want to” ~Annie Gottlier
~~~~~Chuckles&Chortles~~~~
More signs that you are no longer a kid:
You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge
Your ears are hairier than your head
Neighbors borrow your tools
You have a party, and the neighbors don’t even realize it
You sing along with the elevator music
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have you ever seen the show “Everybody Loves Raymond”? It is a show about two brothers – one who everybody thinks is perfect – and one who is always trying to measure up. Many of us have the “perfect” brother or sister. They are the ones who are good at sports, good in school and popular too, just to add insult to injury. When things go bad for the rest of us – teachers and parents look at us with pain (disgust?) in their faces and say, “Why can’t you just be like your brother?” It’s usually the “less than perfect ones” who drift away – or run away; like the prodigal son of Luke 15. Or perhaps you are on the other end of things. Maybe you are the prodigal’s brother. The older brother may not have openly rebelled and left the family – but in his heart … he was far from home. You’ll see in today’s Fuel4theFire.
Even non-church people are familiar with this story; but today, let’s look at it from a slightly different angle; the perspective of the older brother of the prodigal son.
Have you ever asked for an advance on your allowance before? Well, get this – the younger brother asked for an advance on his inheritance! Try that with your parents and let me know what kind of reaction you get. But somehow his dad relents and gives him his loot – quite a sum as we understand it. So the kid hits the road and parties and gambles and leases limos and eats in the finest restaurants with all his “friends” till the ill-gotten booty is gone. Now he finds himself alone and working in the lowest and dirtiest of all occupations – Youth Pastor. Just kidding. In reality, he is in charge of feeding the pigs! And he is so broke and so hungry that the pig food actually looks good to him. It is then that he comes to himself and begins the long journey home to his father where he repents and is welcomed back.
That would be great if it were the end of the story – but Jesus adds an appendix to the narrative which chronicles the reaction – and more importantly the heart – of the prodigals brother;
“Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he (the servant) said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he (the prodigals brother) was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he (the dad) said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. (Luke 15:25-34)
The prodigal’s brother was faithful in the family business and always there when his dad needed him. He was never late for work, had perfect attendance, never went to a far off country, never committed a crime, and never did anything to excess – he was the perfect son. And yet he was far from home.
I wonder what the two brothers were like as youngsters (another sign you are not a kid: you use the word youngster); I bet the prodigal was adventurous, daring, mischievous, and fun loving. I’m sure he would be the one to stretch the boundaries and instigate trouble. The older brother was probably more conservative, legalistic, by the book, protective and serious.
And while the older brother seemed to do everything right – and get all the accommodations that go along with that; he was still far from home. My guess is that deep within his heart of hearts – he wished he was more adventurous. He longed to be more carefree and spontaneous. But he wasn’t – so instead, he stored up jealousy and resentment toward his brother.
Do you think the older brother hated the prodigal more for leaving home or coming home? Do you think the older brother should be mad at how the dad celebrated the prodigals return?
And a final question: Do you think deathbed repentance makes up for a lifetime of sin, folly and irresponsibility? I can answer that one for you … No it doesn’t – but Calvary does.
Don’t get me wrong, the prodigal had his issues, but his sins were behavioral (outward). The older brother’s sins were dispositional (inward). Which is worse?
The far off country was deep in the heart of the prodigal’s older brother … but it was no less real and perhaps even unhealthier and maybe farther from home than the pig sty the prodigal found himself in.
Do you most identify with the prodigal or his older brother? Are you far from home today? Do you wish you could take the first step in the long journey home? You can; but no one can do it for you. Remember the father was waiting with open arms for the prodigal to return. He’s waiting for you too.
If you want to write me back and tell me your situation – I will listen. If you need to talk – I can do that too.
That’s today’s Fuel4theFire.
And remember … I love you guys.
Tom
