Jump Start # 3987
Luke 15:28 “But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.”
The beautiful story of the prodigal son begins very sadly and ends wonderfully with a celebration of forgiveness, hope and love. It does, except for one dimension. The older brother casts a shadow on the joy of the celebration. The older brother nearly ruins the festive atmosphere of salvation. He refused to go into the house. He refused to acknowledge the prodigal as his brother. He refused to count his blessings. And, above all, he refused to see himself as lost. He wasn’t glad that the prodigal was back. He was angry. And, the dear father who had run to meet the wayward prodigal coming home, now must leave the celebration and talk with this other son.
I have met the older brother. Not the one in Jesus’ story, but ones in my life. Bitter. Angry. Miserable. Unhappy. Duty bound. Viewing their journey as drudgery. And, when a big deal is made about a prodigal coming home, they have something to say. And, what they say is negative. What they say isn’t nice. I’ve heard it said, “Well, it probably won’t last. He’ll be gone again before you know it.” Or, “He’s only here to get attention. He isn’t sincere.” Cold. Cruel. Harsh.
It seems that it is much easier to put on the shoes of the older brother than it is to walk with the prodigal. In fact, those shoes can fit so comfortably, that many do not even notice that they are wearing the shoes of the older brother. Sour attitudes. Words mumbled under the breath. Critical. Judgmental. Condemning.
Now, you might say, “How do you know all this Roger?” It’s easy. I’ve worn those shoes far too many times. I have stood, with my arm around the shoulder of the older brother. I know. I have been him. And, it takes a lot of work by the Lord to evict that Pharisee that loves to take residence in our hearts. I look back and am amazed that the Lord would have anything to do with me, but He does. He never gives up on any of us.
So, why is it that we can be so comfortable being the older brother?
First, pride has a lot to do with that. We’d never do what the prodigal would do. We are much better than that. We are smarter than that. We know better. Maybe the prodigal doesn’t. And, that pride very quickly moves to self righteous attitudes. I am better than you.
What helped was seeing that the older brother was just as lost at home as the prodigal was in the far country. Their sins may have been different, but they were both terribly lost. Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. Yep, that’s us. And, when we get that, those shoes of the older brother start pinching our toes. Those shoes no longer feel comfortable. Working on being humble, makes you realize that you need God just as much as the prodigal does.
Second, we have forgotten our love for the Lord. Oh, we serve Him. We follow Him. We study Him. But, we’ve forgotten to love Him. Duty has replaced desire. Have to has replaced want to. And, with that the joy of worship and the passion to walk with the Lord suffers. The older brother served his father. That’s how he saw the relationship. That’s how he defined the way things were between the two of them. He was nothing more than a servant. He was doing what he was supposed to do. Gone was the joy. Gone was the going out of his way. Gone was the pleasure of being with his father. And, very easily, it can become the same for us.
Third, a dislike for his brother was much of this. It doesn’t take much to see that the older brother despised the prodigal. It doesn’t seem that this was a new feeling. It doesn’t seem that this came about simply because the prodigal went away. It seems long standing. And, when our relationship with our brothers isn’t strong or healthy, jealousy and bitterness are easy to take over. The way some talk, they’d like to see a few fellow members leave and never come back. That shouldn’t be. Some are hard to get close to. Some are like hugging a porcupine. Yet, if God loves them and accepts them, so must I. We must remember, that God may have a hard time loving us because of who we are.
So, what do I do if I look down and to my amazement, I am wearing the shoes of the older brother? What do I do?
First, ask the Lord to open your heart, your eyes and to forgive you. What the older brother did was wrong. It ruins fellowship. It creates division in the church. And, most of all, it’s not like Jesus. So, spend more time in the Gospel. Get to see where Jesus is and who He is with.
Second, pray and do better. Get in that house and celebrate with the prodigal. Get in line to hug and truthfully say, “I’m glad you are back. I have missed you.” Show that you forgive, accept and love the prodigal.
Third, fight those urges to cross your arms, wrinkle your forehead and say some unkind words. Do better. Do what is right.
The spirit of the older brother thrives in far too many congregations today. Unwilling to forgive. Unwilling to accept. They proudly stand upon a solid doctrine yet they do not have the heart nor the spirit of our Lord. Many a person has been discouraged and ruined because of the older brother syndrome. It’s time to put an end to that and to let people know that it is not acceptable, healthy nor right with the Lord. It’s time to cut out the little Pharisee that loves to dwell within our hearts.
Oh, to be like the Father.
Roger