What Are You Doing With Your Inheritance?
Luke 15:11-32
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.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.14
And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.15
And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.16
And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.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!18
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,19
And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.20
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.21
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.22
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:23
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:24
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.25
Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.26
And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.27
And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.28
And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.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:30
But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.31
And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.32
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
INTRO: We hear about the "Prodigal Son" all the time - in fact we probably know someone who fits that title. What about the "Elder Brother?" How did he use his inheritance? Did he use it wisely, or did he also squander his gift from the father? What about you, are you squandering what the Father gives you? Let us look at the scripture today.
As we look a t the story, I want us to understand what the message Christ is conveying to us is found in the last two verses of this chapter. It is not all the happenings before, it is how it ended.
Before I start on the Elder Brother, let us look in the Word and see what went on in their lives.
Notice verse 12 - BOTH sons received their inheritance. Let me tell you today, if you know the Lord, He has something for you to do, He has something for you to use, He has something for you to share.
The younger brother is the one we immediately notice. It is he whose poor lifestyle catches our eye. It is he who we are concerned about in life. Don't we all know someone who would carry this tag? Don't we all know someone who we would shake our head and say, "Boy they are headed for real trouble." Or, "What a waste!" We can sympathize with the elder brother too, can we not? I mean after all, he worked hard and what did it give him?
Well there is more to it than that, Let us start.
We can first see that the Elder Brother was…
Going through the motions - vs. 25
We can see he did not…
Guard against malice in his heart - vs. 28
And he was…
Grumbling in misery - vs. 29
He was also…
Giving just the minimum - vs. 29
With all the opportunity he had, he was not…
Grabbing the moment the father wanted - vs. 29b
And we need to see what the father wanted was for him to be…
Glad and to be merry about the Father's lost and found son.- vs. 32
What was the Elder Brother's sin? What was his shortcoming? What did he do that so hurtful and grievous to his father?
He knew where his brother was - vs. 30
Knew how his brother was living - vs. 30
Never went to his brother.
Was not looking for his brother - in the field
The father saw him coming a great way off. - vs. 20
Was not caring for his brother - he was angry and would not go in - vs. 28
Did not talk to the father (at first) - vs. 26
He was bitter without cause (blamed others about his perceived problem) - 29
We should see…
The father came to him - 28
The father had more for him than he was claiming - 31
He wants us to help the younger brothers and be happy when they are restored.
He has something special just for us - 31
Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 052304am