A Personal Perspective on the Prodigal Son   

I first read the parable, ‘The Prodigal Son’ from Luke’s gospel, years ago when I was in the early stages of my journey toward the Lord. At that point in my life, my understanding of God’s word was limited to a literal interpretation of the Scripture. I often missed the true essence of the messages Jesus told in the New Testament. I remember finishing the chapter and setting my bible down on the desk, unnerved by what I read. The story had struck me square in the face, but not in the way most people would understand.

You see, I was part of the story. I was the oldest son.

My Story

Growing up in a small Texas town in the 60s, my younger brother and I were raised as I suspect my father had been brought up. He was a harsh disciplinarian who taught us to respect authority, work hard, and never make excuses for our failures. These rules were strictly enforced, and I did my best to avoid disappointing my parents, my teachers, then later my employers. I wasn’t an angel nor was I a genius, but I worked hard to apply these teachings as I evolved into an adult.

In my mid-30s, I dove into my career in pursuit of tangible ‘things’ valued in our world such as money and status. I desperately sought the admiration and respect of the people around me. As I focused on attaining these things, I began to see the results of my labors. With each promotion I received or possession I acquired, I felt a momentary rush of joy. But like the pleasure we receive from all earthly things, my happiness quickly faded, and I found myself looking to the next challenge on the horizon, believing status and possessions would help me find true peace.

My Prodigal Brother

While I was seeking emotional fulfillment through worldly pleasures, my brother traveled a more volatile road. He stumbled through life, surviving too many self-inflicted wounds to track, squandering every opportunity and gift given to him. With each bad choice he made, a dark cloud of misfortune followed him in his journey. By society’s standards, he failed in most aspects of his life. However, my parents always stood by him, supported him financially, and defended his actions regardless of the circumstances.

I grew to despise him for his behavior, and harbored resentment toward my parents for not holding him to the same standards I had grown up with. Over his lifetime, they gave to him repeatedly and he always accepted those gifts without a note of gratitude. I had worked diligently to achieve success, as I knew it. My brother on the other hand never had to earn his way in life. Everything was given to him.

Much like the prodigal son.

In Luke chapter 15, Jesus tells a story of a man who had two sons. The youngest son demanded he be given the inheritance he would be due if his father died. In a sense he told him, ‘You are already dead to me. Give me what is mine!’

The father gave him his share and the son fled the country, spending it foolishly on a life of debauchery and sin. Soon he returned penniless and ashamed. But instead of being rebuked and rejected, his father welcomed him home with a celebration. The oldest son who had faithfully served his father all his life was taken back by his generosity toward his brother.

‘Look at all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders.’ (Luke 15:29)

And the father replied,

‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ (Luke 15:31)

For years I was blind to the true meaning of this powerful story of redemption and relentless love. In the Scripture, I could only see the flaws of my family as characters in the plot, and the egregious behavior of the younger son, much like my brother’s. The pain of my relationship with my sibling obscured my vision of reality.

It took years for my eyes to be opened and the truth to be revealed to me. My gradual enlightenment was purely a result of God’s work in my life. But the clarity I saw was not only in the meaning of the parable itself. I could suddenly see my own journey and transgressions more clearly.

For over 40 years, I pursued meaningless objects which could be earned, bought, or possessed. God was not a part of my life, or scarcely even a word in my vocabulary. Twice He called upon me, and twice I denied him. As a teenager, He summoned me to the front of a small Presbyterian church. I felt a powerful presence urging me to stand and walk toward the pulpit and accept Him in my life, but I was frightened and remained in my seat until the force subsided.

Twenty years later He beckoned me again, this time through a coworker. At one point I found myself kneeling in prayer in a small conference room at work, accepting Christ in my life. For a while, I felt a sudden rebirth. My spirit was renewed. I became involved in a church, and my view of what was important in the world began to change. But unfortunately, my conversion was temporary, and two years later the flame in my heart began to flicker and I returned to a life focused on self-indulgence.

I was driven by a need for recognition and respect from others, vs paying homage to the One who gave me life. Every thought I had and action I took was focused on me, whether it be through the attainment of financial gain, promotion, or even physical pleasure. My pursuit of worldly things eventually took me to a very dark place in my life, resulting in my divorce and pressing guilt which threatened to overcome me.

In my blindness and vanity, I had ignored my own transgressions against God. I couldn’t see that my sins, though different than my brother’s, were no less hurtful to Him. I had rejected Him, I judged others. I coveted. The list goes on.

In short, I was the wayward son.

In a society filled with temptations, most of us are prodigal sons and daughters at various times in our lives. We turn away from Him, seeking fulfillment and joy from worldly things. We revere false idols, whether they be people, possessions, or pleasure. And in our flawed logic, we often hesitate to seek Him because we believe our transgressions are unpardonable, unworthy of His love and forgiveness.

But Jesus gave us this parable so we would never lose sight of the most important message He told in His short life. The message of God’s mercy and his infinite love.

Today, remnants of the resentment I feel over my brother still remain, much like a thorn embedded beneath my skin I cannot reach or extract. Perhaps someday it will come to the surface and I will be free of it. But for now, I view him as a person very much like me. A sinner who deserves God’s forgiveness.

Over six hundred years ago, Thomas a Kempis wrote words that are as true now as they were when he authored his book Imitation of Christ.

‘He who seeks anything but God alone and the salvation of his soul will find only trouble and grief.’

In my own journey, I wish I had understood this profound statement and followed this guidance. But of course, that would not have been God’s plan for me.

I sometimes think of the father in the story, and the great suffering he must have endured when his youngest son demanded his inheritance. That is surely the same pain God endures when we commit sin. Yet despite our failures and flaws, He is always there waiting for us to return.