The Prodigal Son

I have LOVED reading and studying the Bible this year!

I enjoy the Come, Follow Me curriculum and have learned a lot through personal revelation and discussions with others in groups like institute. This week I had things stand out to me that improved my life, but the parable of the Prodigal Son was not part of this. During my institute class, however, our teacher, Brother Tom Christofferson, said this was the best parable of them all. He obviously related to it and loves it for his own reasons. But the discussion that ensued frustrated me.

The class focused on how the son who stayed should also be called the prodigal son because of his selfishness.They judged him harshly. My perspective is different. Either I'm wrong or Jesus was able to teach in parables that have so much depth that both ways of looking at it could be true. I think it depends on the lesson we each need. Here are some of my thoughts.

This Little Piggy Went to Market

The son who left home basically told his father he wished he was dead by asking for his inheritance. He took the money that he thought he was entitled to, without knowing or caring how to use it. He left and squandered it on harlots and who knows what else. I think of my ex husband and his brothers, specifically the one who had the most money. They choose to seek out drugs and alcohol and "harlots" without thought of how it would affect the ones who actually care about them. Feelings of betrayal arise here.

This Little Piggy Stayed Home

The other son stayed home and worked with his father. He learned how to succeed his fathers business. He worked long hours, feeding the fatted calf, etc, and being loyal to his family. He chose to make sacrifices. Give up things he wanted, even if it was just the weakness of the flesh. He chose to stay faithfully. Trusting, that one day, his hard work, perhaps of fattening up that calf, would pay off, and he would feast on his labors. He couldn't see the bigger picture. He didn't understand there was infinitely more for him.

This Little Piggy had Roast Beef

When the son who left ran out of money and therefore friends, he hit rock bottom. He faced a fate worse than death. He fed and ate with the swine. Remember, in this culture, swine were unclean. Starving, and filthy, and I'm sure stinking of the unclean creature to which he felt he was equal, he defeatedly, returned to his father, not to regain what he left, but to be a servant to his family. Upon seeing him stagger closer, his loving father ran to him to embrace him and rejoice that he had changed and returned. Holding his child in his arms, he would be able to feel his bones through the rags he was wearing, and choke on the stench of a pigsty. He didn't give him a chance to propose his plan before he ordered his workers to bring him shoes, a robe, and a ring worthy of a king. He had the fatted calf killed for a feast in his honor. This was truly a day of rejoicing, for someone most cherished and loved repented. Returned to their Father. And was no more lost.

This Little Piggy had None

When the son who stayed found out what had happened he was upset. Yes, this is selfish and not Christlike, but think about what he was going through. His brother, who he maybe looked up to, who should have been his best friend, who should have stayed and helped with the work, abandoned him. It wasn't just their father who lost someone he loved, it was this brother, too. He must have felt hurt. Angry. Sad. Confused. His initial reaction was human. He had spent time fattening that calf, after all.  He had resisted the temptations of the flesh. He had stayed with his father to become more like him. And I think he did. He just wasn't perfect yet. He had forgotten the lavish meals he ate daily and the comfort he was never without. He hadn't seen the emaciated body of his brother and been able to realize his suffering. He had only imagined the parties he had been to and the ladies he had been with.

This Little Piggy Cried WEE WEE WEE all the way home
When the son who left came home, he was crying. He had sunk so low that he wanted to be a servant just so he wouldn't be a swine.

This Little Piggy Cried WE WE WE all the way home
When the son who stayed spoke with his father, who had journeyed out to talk with him when he wouldn't come in for the feast because he wanted to feast with him also, the son pointed out that he had been serving his father faithfully and without transgressing all along. He explained why he was so upset and how it didn't seem fair. WE have been working all this time. What has he done to deserve a feast? He thought that feast should be for him. Other than righteous duty, why else would he have been working so hard? His father, as many times previous, I'm sure, took the opportunity to enlighten and enlarge his sons mind. He taught him that this one feast is for his brother, because there is great cause for rejoicing. But reassured him that he will receive so much more. Truly, ALL that the father has is his inheritance.

It's okay to be upset about things, but never forget that Gods ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. We can't always understand His will, but He has a plan for us and a reward. And it is bigger and better than we can imagine for ourselves. It is longer lasting than anything we can think up and more fulfilling than any carnal desire.