FXF Stories: The Prodigal Son

The parable of The Prodigal Son is a widely recognized story from the Bible, used as a story to exemplify God's grace and forgiveness when we mess up. The story goes like this:

The son of a middle class man had two sons. One of his sons came to him one day and asked the father for his share of the estate. Obliging, his father split the estate between the two of them and gave him his half.

A short time later, with his newfound wealth, the man's son left home to be on his own, traveling to a foreign country and squandering his wealth on "wild living". During his stay, the country experienced a severe famine, and nearing the end of his wealth, he went and got a job as a pig feeder on a pig farm. Conditions here were terrible, however, and the son found himself so in need that he desired to eat the slop the pigs had. Broke and a long way from where he was before, the sin remembered that his father's servants had much better conditions, and furthermore, real food in abundance. Realizing this, he got up and went to ask for his father's forgiveness, starting the long trek home.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." The son repented, citing “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son" Luke 15: 20-21. The father called over all the servants, put the best robe on him, and a ring on his finger. He had a calf killed and a party thrown for his son's return.

The story goes on to tell of the other son, his brother, who was working in the field. When hearing the music and commotion and came to see what was going on. When finding out that a big party was being thrown for his brother who he felt wasted his father's wealth, he was enraged. As he had never disobeyed his father, yet he himself was never even given a calf to eat with his friends. His father took him in his arms, saying "My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” Luke 15:31‭-‬32. THE END.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son, then, shouldn't be easily forgotten. It's yes, a story, but all too prevalent in our daily lives. We sin day in and day out against a perfect and holy God who can never and will never let us down. We have all gone down our own disobedient paths (some longer than others), and at some point squandered the immense wealth given to us by God. However, like in the story, we must never give up nor forget that we can always come to God. When we go off and realize we never should have left, we can run back to him, and hell, he'll see us a long way off and come running to meet us. He'll wrap you up and clothe you in the best robes, he'll put that ring on your finger and throw a huge party for his creation has come home.

Lastly, there's one other lesson in there. Those of us who are Christians cannot be quick to have amnesia, forgetting what it's like to be where those that are lost have been. Therefore, we must withhold judgement and seek to extend the grace that God has given you. Don't be like the brother. Step inside and join in on the celebrations of those who have been redeemed.