Grievances

Scripture Reading: Luke 15:25-32

The parable of the Prodigal Son is one of Jesus’ most well-known parables. While not the main point of the parable, the insight into human nature and relationships is incredible. But would we expect anything less from the Creator of all mankind? Jesus knows us well.

In this last part of the parable, the spotlight is turned away from the Prodigal Son to the older brother, who in many ways is the climactic figure of the chapter. He is the representative of the Pharisees and scribes who were grumbling about Jesus’ receiving and eating with sinners.

Like this older brother, these men are full of self-pity and grievances. When we turn the focus on ourselves, that is what the result always becomes. We are blinded to the joy of God’s grace, we can’t rejoice and be glad when a prodigal comes home, because we feel grieved by our perception of God and His treatment of us.

“You never gave me a young goat…”

S.D. Gordon once said that you can shut out the sun with a  very small coin if you hold it close enough to your eyes. Self-pity and a focus on personal grievances are like holding a coin against our eyes. It blocks out the glory of all the things God is doing. It robs us of joy. We can’t rejoice and be glad because we never got the party in our honor.