Daily Devotion in Luke 15

Luke Header from a 1611 KJV

Daily Nugget:
The two sons were quite different from each other. The oldest was a faithful, hard worker. Seldom did he miss a day’s work. Rain or shine, he was found caring for his father’s crops in the fields.

However, this could not be said about the youngest. It was always hard for him to be on time. Many times, he probably did not show up. Of course, his excuses may have seemed legitimate. “I hurt my back yesterday,” or “I’ve got the flu bug everyone else had.” The truth was, he just did not like to work.

When he was at work, his mind was far from what he was doing. He often daydreamed about what he would do if he had a lot of money. “Oh, the places I would visit; the clothes I would wear. Even my friends would be the best: princes, dukes, and maybe even kings.”

On and on, those ideas most likely went through his mind. The more he thought and daydreamed, the more important they seemed. His waking time was probably spent thinking about his dream of being wealthy. Because of his discontentment, work became more dissatisfying to him. “I should be in the presence of royalty and not working in the fields like a common peasant!”

As his hatred for his job on the family estate grew, he began to think of ways to get out of this “poor man’s life”’ and get money to live the carefree life he desired. Finally, one day, an idea came to him. His father was very wealthy. He had fields, cattle, servants, and money! When his father eventually died, he would endow all of it to his sons. Why wait until that happened? Besides, that could be a long time off, and the youngest son wanted the money – now!

He waited for his father to be in a good mood and approached him with the idea. “Dad, you said that all you have will be mine and my brother’s when you die. Well, I can’t wait that long. I need it now! I’ve just got to get off this farm.” On and on, he whined and complained to his father.

At first, his father was against the idea, but as the son complained and showed how he hated his life, the father succumbed to his son’s pleas. All was divided, and half was given to the son. Half the flocks were sold. Half the harvest crops were auctioned off so the youngest could have his share.

The day arrived when the son left with his half of his birthright. Goodbyes were said, and on he went with his money. It was more money than he had ever seen. “Oh, what a wonderful life this money will give me,” he thought.

After arriving in town, he rented one of the most exclusive apartments. “Surely, anyone that lives here could not possibly ride an old nag as I have,” he may have thought. Off he went to get himself one of the most beautiful carriages and team of horses he had ever seen. “Certainly, a man of my stature and wealth must have finer clothes.” Off he went again to dress in the best clothing money could buy.

What a sight this transformed farm boy was. Soon this eloquent, young man was the talk of the town. People stopped to stare as his stately team of horses pranced by pulling his carriage. The parties and balls this young man had were unmatched by any. All were invited, and most came.

His home was probably the center of attraction. Visitors were constantly coming and going. “Friends” may have surrounded him. Word of his generosity spread. Even some of the town’s elite confided to him “that things were not as it seemed” and could he lend them some money.

What a life he had, a dream come true. “A big house, servants, rich living, rich friends, respect. Oh, what a life,” he proudly thought.

Shortly, the money ran out. The parties stopped. Buying clothes stopped. Money lending halted. Soon, buying food and paying the rent even came to a grinding stop. The carriage and horses were sold to pay some of the bills. There was no money left.

“Surely, my friends will help me,” he believed.  He was discouraged, as one ‘friend’ after another turned his requests down. Many looked at him strangely. Many even avoided him. He was alone, without friends, money, and nowhere to go. He was forced to leave town.

Outside town, he found a place to work. It was a terrible job, but it was either work there or starve. His position was to look over a flock of pigs. They were not penned, so he had to roam the countryside with them. Even more humiliating were the poor wages he was given. He could not afford to buy his meals and was forced to eat what was fed to the hogs. “How low could a fellow go?” he surely thought.

Soon, he remembered his days working for his father on the farm. His father was good to him. Yes, the way they lived was humble, but look at the son now. How foolish he had been. How wasteful he had been with his father’s money. How stupid he had been to believe all those people were his friends.

Days and weeks went by. He grew more miserable. “If only I hadn’t left my father. Even his servants are fed better than this. I have done foolishly and have sinned against God.”

He left his hog-sitting job and headed home. He was ready to apologize and do whatever it took to get right with his father, even if rejected. As he neared the farmhouse, his father saw him from afar. “My son, my son,” his father shouted and ran as he hugged his returning, wayward son.

A party was thrown in celebration of the young son’s return. It was a grand reunion, and all between father and son was forgiven. The foolish son was received back into the household. What was lost was found.

This is part of a fictionalized account of the parable taught by Jesus in Luke 15. Although a teaching lesson, I am sure this account has happened thousands of times. There are always foolish people who are discontent with what they have and always want “greener pastures.”

As with all sin, the sin of covetousness leads to loss, loss of contentment, loss of self-satisfaction, loss of appreciation for God’s gifts to us, and loss of personal gain.

The glitter of things is not a sin. The iniquity is not being happy with what God has given and wanting something else He has chosen not to give us.

Covetousness is encouraged today by television ads tempting us to get something bigger and better than what we have, fads to prod us to get something else, or even peer pressure to persuade us that what we have is not good enough. Our covetousness, no matter how we are tempted, is still sin. It had led to loss and separation from friends, family, and God for this prodigal son that Jesus spoke of 2,000 years ago, and it will do the same today.

The good news this parable teaches is if your lusts have led you to do wrong, there is a way back: repentance. Turn from your sin, as did the prodigal son, and return to where God originally placed you. God could have given you all the riches in the world, but he knows that perhaps you are not ready for them or could never handle them. Trust Him. He knows what is best for your life. He will forgive and accept you back, as did the father his prodigal in the parable in Luke.

Today’s Thought: 
"Contentment is a pearl of great price, and whoever procures it at the expense of ten thousand desires makes a wise and happy purchase." — J. Balguy

Words to Understand:
Publicans:  collectors of tributes and/or taxes
Riotous: wild living often without moral restrictions

Today’s Reading:
Luke 15
1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
11 ¶ And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.