The story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 is such that should make a believer understand faith and God’s generosity (Grace). In the parable, we find two distinct attitudes toward the father that show what many believers experience in their relationship with God.
The younger son’s actions which was him asking for his inheritance and leaving home are often criticized, but that revealed something crucial which was his understanding of his father’s generosity and provision. He knew his father was not just wealthy but generous, a key expectation God has for us as his own children.
When the younger son requested his share of the inheritance, the father willingly divided his property, giving the younger son one-third while reserving the remaining two-thirds for the elder brother. This act of giving demonstrates the father’s open-handed nature. Similarly, God’s resources are unending, and He is ready to give generously to us his children.
Even after squandering his inheritance, the younger son retained his understanding of his father’s character. Stranded and destitute, he recalled that even his father’s servants lived comfortably. This reflection drove him to return home, trusting in his father’s grace and willingness to receive him which actually is a trust that mirrors the faith God desires from us.
In contrast, the older son’s attitude reflects a misunderstanding of his father’s generosity and his own position as an heir. Though the father had reserved two-thirds of the property for him, the older son acted as though he had nothing. His anger upon hearing that his father threw a party to welcom his brother home was from a limited understanding of his father’s grace and the abundance that was already his because even the fattest calf that was killed was His.
The father responded to the older son that “All that I have is yours.” This underscores a crucial truth for believers which is everything God has is available to us. Yet, like the older son, many believers fail to access the fullness of God’s grace because they lack an understanding of their inheritance in Christ. Instead of walking in faith, they live in frustration, unaware of the resources freely given to them.
This teaches us that understanding God as our Father with unending resources in the commonwealth of Zion is foundational to living a life of faith. The younger son’s journey shows the importance of recognizing our rights as children of God and trusting in His generosity, even when we fall short. The older son’s reaction at his brother’s return warns against the dangers of ignorance and entitlement, which can blind us to the abundance of grace available to us.
God’s grace is not diminished by our requests or actions. The “commonwealth” from which He provides is inexhaustible. What we ask for does not deplete His resources be it healing, provision, protection or whatever it is we desire in our hearts putting his will first. This should inspire us to approach Him with boldness, knowing that He will not hold back any good thing from us.
Can you take a moment to reflect on your relationship with God. Are you like the younger son, confident in God’s generosity, or like the older son by being oblivious to the riches already ours in Christ? To live as heirs of the kingdom, we must embrace God’s unending grace and abundance by accessing all He has for us through faith.
