A father’s two sons (3)

And he [Jesus of Nazareth c. AD 30] said, “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that is coming to me.’ So he divided his assets between them. …… [The younger son leaves home with his share, spends it all, becomes destitute and hungry, returns in confession seeking to become merely an employee, but is welcomed back as a son.] And they began to celebrate. Now the father’s elder son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. And he summoned one of the bonded servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back healthy.’ But But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look and see, so many years I have served you, and have never disobeyed your command! And you never gave me a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends! But when this son of yours returned—who has consumed your assets with prostitutes—you killed the fattened calf for him!’ But he said to him, ‘Child, you are always with me, and everything I have belongs to you. But it was necessary to celebrate and to rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead, and is alive, and was lost, and is found!’ ” Luke 15: 11-32

This man Jesus (who was crucified, dead and buried but rose from the dead AD 30) often spoke to the crowds in parallels. One of these is in bold above. Pressed by the younger of his two sons this father decides to give to them both, equally, immediately, their half-share of the assets which his life had dealt to him. There was no holding back. Both sons were free – were empowered (as we call it today). The younger son liquidates these assets, moves away from his father’s sight and spends, spends, spends – including (if his brother is correct) spending the father’s assets on prostitutes. You, like me, may suspect that the brother is deliberately using a derogatory noun so as to lift himself into superiority over his younger brother (again).
.	‘Wealth ruins far more souls than poverty.’ (J C Ryle, writer and pastor, 1816-1900)
However, it’s now this elder brother whom we need to understand better from the parallel Jesus gave. He comes home having spent the day working in the field. Good man. When he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. The explanation? ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back healthy.’ Elder brothers are often far more serious and conscientious and responsible than younger ones. Somehow I think that, if this occurred in most two-son families, the elder would be none too pleased (to put it mildly). He became angry and did not want to go in. So his father came out and began to implore him. When this father pleads with his obedient, conscientious, hard-working son, the true nature of the relationship between them is uncovered. Please remember that this is a parallel. Please remember that God the father, creator of all things, has given to humanity that he created – all beauty, all food, all things that multiply and bear fruit, our life, our health, our cleverness. Some of us take all he has given us and devote it all to ourselves (the younger son). Others (the elder son) are far more responsible, are good trustees of his gifts, hold and multiply them conscientiously. What then is the true relationship of father to elder son? He addresses him with a kindly title “child” (teknon in the original Greek indicating the closest father to son relationship). He makes it clear that the elder son’s position in his father’s sight is secure for ever: you are always with me. He makes it even clearer that all of his life’s assets belong only to the elder son: everything I have belongs to you. But what is the true relationship of elder son to father? He bitterly recounts his labour: so many years I have served you, and have never disobeyed your command. When he seemed to work obediently he was acting to cover an unwilling and disobedient heart. He draws attention to the sins of others whom his father loves: this son of yours has consumed your assets with prostitutes. He despises his father’s forgiveness and generosity: you killed the fattened calf for him!’
.	‘Hate, like love, picks up every shred of evidence to justify itself.’ (Os Guinness, author and social critic)
It seems to me that the father did all he could for his two boys. But in the end only one loved him. The elder was the one who loved his father’s assets much more than his father. He never experienced his father’s forgiveness. He never ever saw what was there all the time – his father’s love. A fatal error. He was alone with his assets.

Richard Syvret

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