Living on Mission – The Younger Son

Living on Mission – The Younger Son

“I want more.” ~ Younger Son

How many times have you heard that? Maybe it was coming out of the mouth of a friend, sibling, parent, or child. Maybe you heard it coming out of your own mouth. Unfortunately, it’s a pretty common thought.

The younger son had everything he needed at home. He had food, shelter, and family relationships. Yet, something was missing. He wanted to explore. He wanted adventure. He wanted more. So, he took advantage of the kindhearted nature of his father, went against all cultural convention, and asked for his share of the inheritance. He was bold and determined, and he got more. He traveled. He had all kinds of new experiences. He actually went buck wild. It wasn’t long until he found out that sometimes more is not all it’s cracked up to be. Eventually, the money was gone, there was a famine, and he found himself starving and feeding pigs. The younger son began longing for home.

The good, good father is the hero in this story. He loved his younger son so much that he waited patiently for him to come back home. The father’s heart was for the good of his boy, no matter what. The father was on the lookout for his beloved son to follow his heart back home. The younger son finally came to his senses and headed home to ask his father to take him on as a servant. The father didn’t even listen to his rehearsed speech – he was too busy getting ready to throw a party.

I love that the father didn’t scold the younger son for his bad behavior. He didn’t demand that the son repay all of the wasted money. The younger son wasn’t expected to earn his way back into his father’s good graces. The father was ready and waiting to restore the son to his place in the family. The father’s love was truly more than the younger son dreamed of or expected. The father’s love provided the “more” that the son had longed for in the first place.

Let’s practice Living on Mission and be like the father - on the lookout and ready to provide an avalanche of love when the younger son turns toward home.

Pastor Angela