The Selfish Journey

Happy Sunday. When Jesus walked to this earth, he was known to eat with just anybody: Sinners, Tax Collectors, all sorts of people. The ultra religious did not approve. The religion of the day was all about appearances; love and compassion were not even thought about, really. Jesus turned all of that upside down.

As Luke chapter 15 begins, we hear these words about the ultra religious: "Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus, and the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling, saying, 'This fellow welcomes Sinners, and he even eats with them.'" After knowing what they were saying, Jesus began to tell some stories of the worth of all individuals, including you and me. He told the story of a lost sheep, a lost coin, and then, beginning in verse 11 of Luke 15, we find the story of the lost son. You know the story, is the story of the prodical son.

And I want to read verses 11 and 12 as The Story begins. "Jesus said, 'There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the share of the wealth that belongs to me."'" Now, today this is pretty tacky. 2,000 years ago in Israel, in a Jewish Home, this was Unthinkable.

This young son, we guess maybe in teenage years, we don't know, was as selfish as they come. He wanted his freedom. He was tired of following his father's rules. This boy's plan did not include any of his family at all.

According to the law, the young son was entitled to onethird of his father's estate. That is, when the father died. The father was alive and well, but I'm pretty sure that this request killed a part of him. The older son in that time was entitled to twice as much as his younger siblings, so there were just two of them, so two-thirds of everything would one day be the older Sons.

This young son was really saying to his father, "I wish you were dead." Now, in that day, in culture, it would have been well within the father's rights to kick the son out with nothing at all, break his plate at the table, he's never welcome again, and even hold a funeral. The selfish son's name would have been cursed in the village, and he would not be welcome among anyone who knew of the situation. I'm Amazed by the request. I'm more amazed, amazed at the answer to the request.

I'll read the last words of verse 12: "So his father divided his assets between them." The father granted the request, and let, let me stop the story there for a moment. The father granted this wish, is a picture of God giving freedom to Sinners. Adam and Eve had freedom, free will we call it, and since they lived, each and every one of us who draw breath have had the very same freedom.

Backsliding is allowed by God. He doesn't want it to happen, but he allows it. It's usually the result of someone not liking rules, or not liking results, or not liking restraint. People often get away from the father because of selfish desires.

All of us need to be careful not to stray away. None of us are immune. I've seen it happen to some strong people. 1 Peter 5'8 tells us, "Discipline yourself, keep alert. Like a roaring lion, your adversary the devil prows around, looking for someone to devour." That includes all of us. We best be careful.

Back to our story. I pick it up at verse 13 of Luke 15: "A few days later, the younger son gathered all he had, and he traveled to a distant region, and there he squandered his wealth in dissolute living." Other versions say riotous living or Unholy living. Loaded with his daddy's loot, the boy went to a distant land. That means Gentile land.

He wanted as far away from God as he possibly could get. He made a choice to distance himself from the father. Sadly, today people do the same thing. I know a man who left his family and his job as a pastor, his church, and he ran to another state to begin a new life far from his old one. He changed his name, he cut his ties, and lived a horrible EX resistance, drowning himself in alcohol.

In our story, this young boy partied and spent his money wildly until one day it just ran out. Verses 14 to 16 tell us that he hit rock bottom. "When he spent everything," we are told, "a severe famine took place throughout the region, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that region, who sent him to his feet, fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, and no one gave him anything."

Sad picture. From the big house to the pig pin, from a great home to this, eating with the pigs. We now see a life wasted. I cannot tell you how many of these people there are.

Poor choices have consequences. Play stupid games and win stupid prizes. Backsliding always leads us in the wrong direction. Is there hope? Can we go back home? Well, join me next week and we'll see.

Lately I've begun asking for prayer requests, and I asked today for prayer for a couple of people: a young lady named Tiffany, uh, and a young man named Ryan. So please pray for Tiffany and Ryan. Pray with me.

Father, help us to stay strong, to stay close to you, and never leave our father's house. Together we thank you for revealing yourself to us and always being there for us. And today we pray that you'd be there for Tiffany and for Ryan, whatever they're going through with, with their health and with, um, the consequences thereof. We ask that you would give them peace, it passes understanding, and healing and hope and strength. And we pray for their families and those that care for them. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

God bless. Thanks for joining me today. Have a great week.