LK 15:11 – 32
By Bro. Sunny Ogumor

This story about our spiritual family says some important things to parents and children about their own family in this modern world.
The parable of the prodigal son is one of the most pensive and disturbing illustration from our Lord Jesus Christ. It touches the heart of a believer if well under stood.
It speaks about losing and winning, it speaks about sadness, then gladness then sadness again.It speaks about losing and winning, it speaks about sadness, then gladness then sadness again.

The first lesson to learn from this passage is that it is an answer given by Jesus Christ to the Pharisees and scribes who accused Him of His relationship with the Publicans and sinners. Oh! This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. Lk 15 :1 –2. And this answers his mission as in Lk 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
There are more lessons to learn from this parable by parents and children who read this story carefully such as:

The Far Country is An Enemy of the Family, How?

Lk 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
Lk 15:13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
This boy did not just wake up one day and took this decision. He must have taught of it before now. He could be missing something in the house that he wants to go out there and enjoy. Restriction by the parents is a way of child training for moral upbringing. Today we live in the age where restrictions are few and the far country is not really far. Ranging from Electronic gadgets to dressing for those schooling in the next state and beyond. The enticements are many. We need to wake up to the dangers of the culture we live in and warn our children about its possible encroachments and the ease with which it can tantalize and tempt them and how quickly it can carry them away. It is good to let out a little rope but to pull it when something wrong is noticed. The far country is just outside gate.

Good Families can Have Bad Kids.

There is no indication in the parable that the father’s values were ill defined, or that his restrictions were loose and ambiguous. Actually the indication is that the rules carefully stated and that is the reason the son wanted his freedom. He felt cramped by the rules and his fun was hampered by the restrictions. Lk 15:14
And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. It is not easy out there when you live the comfort of your parents to join your friends without a good means of livelihood. No one knows what causes good families to have bad kids, but one thing is certain; every person small or big has his own will and can makes his decisions without consultation. Once that decision is a wrong one it affects that child and at times the family.
The prodigal son came from a good family but he wanted something else and he decided what he wanted by himself and his father complied, why? And so a good child went bad because he decided he wanted to. He took his journey into the world, and there wasted his time and money with riotous living.
If a child goes bad it ought to be after we have done all we could. (Not like Eli. 1 Sam 3:13). Children that are not restricted quickly go bad compared to those restricted. Parents should not feel hopeless if the child is proving stubborn. Restrictions for corrections are thought to be impositions. Parents must keep in mind that love and discipline are always connected. Whom you love is whom you correct.
Heb 12:6 For the Lord disciplines those He loves and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son.
Heb 12:7 If you endure discipline, God dealing with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father does not discipline?
Heb 12:8 But if you are not disciplined by a father, then you are a bastard and not a son. (Every one undergoes discipline).
Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

Bad children don’t always stay bad.

This child went bad and there wasted his time and money with riotous living, how? Thereafter there was no money, no friend. He became pig rearer. He descended so low as to eating with the pigs. (God forbid).
The good thing is that he came to his senses and remembered where he come from and decided to go home. Good boy. Lk 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! Lk 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee. Apology accepted before he arrives. Here parents should know that on sighting this child the first approach is very important the memory is not easily erased. Some harden heart will not go back they will decide to stay put and indulge in one crime after the other. Moral training from the home never lost, a child will always remember.

Lost but found

Have you ever found your lost valuable once, and your reaction was like?
Luke 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

The One at Home is not always the best.

The elder brother had the same upbringing and restriction but he did not leave home. But that does not mean he was the best. His reaction when he heard of his brother’s return and the party going on shows that all was not well. Lu 15:29
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. He was missing something but held on to the father’s rules. He doesn’t like cheating but will have to forgive. Just looking good on the outside doesn’t really argue anything but what is on the inside that counts in the ultimate reality.

Hey! Don’t give up.

Be steadfast in prayer. He prayed and hoped that one day he will come back. Lu 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a far off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. First reaction has a great impact. He had always been on the watch out for him. His thought has been I lost him but I will find him, the power of positive thinking. And he continued looking in the direction and lo one day here he comes. And there was rejoicing.
Lu 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
There is never any give up in love. Love just keeps on hoping and looking. No matter how long, no matter what has been done, no matter how deep the hurt or how long the anguish, the father just keeps on looking and so must we. And the Father is looking. He has said “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”–Hebrews 13:5
No promise is of private interpretation. Whatever God has said to any one saint, He has said to all.