The Rest of the Story

Most of us know the story of The Prodigal Son, and consider it complete when the father saw his lost son in the distance, went out to meet him and arranged a banquet in his honor. The story seems to end with the father standing just outside the house beseeching his older son to come in and join the celebration.


The older son had reason to be angry with his brother who squandered a large part of their father’s estate. He was the hard-working son, who stayed at home and “slaved,” for his father, as he described it and he believed their father should not have accepted the return of his younger son. He may even have had reason to be jealous of his brother, who was being treated so royally though he squandered his part of the father’s estate. Are we unlike the older brother? Could selfishness be greater than love for our brother who was lost and is now found? It could have been a joyous time for the older son if he had been forgiving like his father.


Granted, it was unusual for a son to ask for his part of the father’s estate when his father had not yet died. He was in effect wishing that he was. With the younger brother’s return, his older brother would have to share the remainder of their father’s estate. He was indeed angry and spoke disrespectfully to his father, saying, “Look, I have slaved all these years for you and never disobeyed any of your instructions, and yet you haven’t even given me a goat, so I could celebrate with my friends.” He didn’t acknowledge the younger son as his brother, but indignantly referred to him as “your son,” who spent all his money on prostitutes, and for whom the fatted calf was killed. The father tried to tell him that his brother, who was lost, was now found, while he the older brother, had always been at home with the family. He told him all that had been the father’s now belonged to him. Could he please join in the festivities and welcome his lost brother home?


Jesus was not telling the Pharisees a story to entertain them. He wanted them to understand the loving nature of their Heavenly Father and about Heaven. They were much like the older son, who worked in the fields for his father, not because he loved him, but for the sake of getting what he believed his father owed him through his efforts. They believed that God, their Father in Heaven, owed them salvation because they kept all His rules and tried to satisfy Him. They would have been angry because they believed salvation came by satisfying their Father in Heaven, not by evidencing their love for Him.


Jesus had just told two other parables in which a sheep and a coin were lost and were found after a genuine search. If the older son loved his father and his younger brother, he would have said to him that he wanted to find his lost brother and bring him home, knowing he would have learned his lesson after wasting all his money. The older brother could have brought him back to the family at his own expense.


The lesson given by Jesus to the Pharisees is just as applicable to us. To believe that God can be maneuvered into doing what we want Him to do just because we’ve devoted ourselves to work for Him, is incorrect thinking. By not evidencing genuine love for our “younger brother,” we would remain outside the family of God.


The “older brother” would be one who, in his various undertakings is convinced that only his way is correct. “Slaving” at his duties, he would find his efforts joyless, and his numerous tasks without reward. They would be performed with fear-based compliance for God, his exacting boss, more of duties than offerings accompanied by love for those whom he serves. He operates from the standpoint of self-satisfaction in being recognized for his morality and he expects God to bless him because he is virtuous and charitable.


An “older brother” would be happier if he invited his “younger brother,” with motivation initiated by love for him and for God, to work with him, so that together, both might serve their loving Heavenly Father with love rather than duty. The “younger brother,” by being included, would know he is appreciated as a partner and want to contribute, as he is able.