The Good Son

The Parable of the Good Son might not ring a bell because I am actually referring to the older son in the Parable of The Prodigal Son (Luke 15). The prodigal son asked for his inheritance, left home, lived a riotous life, and then returned home begging for a job as a slave. He was accepted back by his loving father as a son. The lesson is about God’s mercy for the lost person who returns to God. The older son stayed home. He was the good son.

The older son went about his work day after day, just a good son should. There was one day, however, that was remarkably different. He returned to his father’s house to hear what sounded like a celebration…. It was a celebration!

One of the servants told him that the celebration was for his younger brother who had returned home. The fattened calf, normally set aside for a an important guest, had been slaughtered for the feast. At this news the older son boiled with anger! HE had not made poor choices in life, not like his younger brother. It was not enough that his younger brother had returned home, they were throwing a party! Anyone would be angry! How insensitive.

Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever found yourself doing what you were supposed to be doing, yet you were overlooked or taken advantage of? Life’s inequities can often arouse anger. After all, hard work and dedication should be rewarded. Excellence should be rewarded. Personal sacrifice should be rewarded. Honesty and integrity should be rewarded.

In many respects the older son had every right to be angry. The younger son had disrupted the family enterprise. It was not simply a matter of taking money from the family’s savings account. Livestock and property were probably sold in order give the son his part of the inheritance. In addition, the family name was undoubtedly tarnished.

Perhaps the greatest inequity was that the foolish younger son had made his way back home and expected something more. A person could easily reason that the younger son was leeching off the older brother’s share of the estate.

Sometimes Christians feel a sense of anger toward fellow Christians who have wandered away from Christ but later returned. The younger son is a picture a Christian who has chased after a life of sin for a time, but later returned home to Christ. The foolish younger son should have known better, just as every Christian should know better than to leave Christ.

The older son displayed an attitude of arrogance. He had accepted his brother’s exit from the family and had effectively forgotten him. Now, he felt that the celebration for his brother’s return was unfair. It was unfair because of his brother’s sin AND because of his own righteousness. In HIS righteousness HE deserved better than his sinful brother. When a Christian is angry about the return of an erring Christian the same arrogance may appear.

The father said to the older brother: “My child, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.” However, the older brother could not see that all the wonderful blessings he enjoyed from his father. It is possible for Christians to have the same blindness. Yet, blessings in Christ abound for every Christian.

The selfish arrogance of the older brother had displaced something. What was missing?

Earlier in Luke 15, a shepherd left ninety-nine sheep that were safe to go in search of his lost sheep. A woman went to great effort to find her lost coin. Yet, who went in search of the prodigal son, that is, the lost brother.

When a fellow Christian rebels and turn from God we should respond with compassion and stive to restore the severed relationship.

May God destroy in us any jealousy or arrogance that would displace our compassion for our brother who errs.

Mark Stinnett

April 6, 2025

Psalm 23: Restoration and Righteousness

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness 

For His name's sake.

There is a sweet and refreshing sound to the idea of restoration. When friends drift apart or experience friction in their relationship, how wonderful the occasion is when the relationship is restored.

Two college friends are reacquainted after 20 years. There is a warm embrace and the reminiscence of old times. They share stories of family, career, old friends and new, twenty years of life. They are each thrilled to share past accomplishments but also the sorrow and pain of life’s trials. They laugh ‘til they cry as one remembers her own childish immaturity or an almost forgotten embarrassment. Compelled only by time or circumstances, they part company with a heavy sigh...and they both agree, “We can’t let another twenty years pass! We must stay in touch.”

This last statement illustrates the restoration is a new beginning. Realizing this same truth, David begged God to assist him beyond the beginning of the restoration of his soul:

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

And sustain me with a willing spirit. 

--Psalm 51

David realized that a clean heart was only the beginning, so also, restored salvation. He needed something that would sustain him beyond the initial cleansing. He needed continued assistance.

The shepherd-king affirms one way in which God assures assistance beyond restoration. In the 23rd Psalm David wrote:

He guides me in the paths of righteousness.

The Great Shepherd understands the human dilemma. He understands that a one-time cleansing is insufficient. So, he leads us on a path that will keep our relationship with him pure.

From the beginning of time, it was God’s intent that mankind walk in righteousness. In simple terms, righteousness is doing what is right. Yet it is a reflection of the very character of God. That is to say that God is, in Himself, altogether righteous. As a part of His divine nature God does not ponder over the meaning of righteousness. He does not try to be righteous. By his own character He is the essence of righteousness.

For God to expect or demand righteousness on the part of man is nothing less than a call for us to be like Him. As the Great Shepherd leads us in the paths of righteousness, He is leading us in such a way that we will mature according to His character. Ultimately, we will, by nature, do that which is good and right, fulfilling the goal of restoration.

He does this for His name’s sake. The simple idea is this: If God did not restore souls, and if God did not lead us in paths of righteousness, then the accusation could be made that He did not care for His sheep. Yet that contradicts His nature of love.

For His name’s sake indicates that His actions have truly preserved His name and His character. He is right in showing mercy and grace, because He is the very essence and definition of love.

People may ponder or wonder about the wrath of God, eternal punishment, and the existence of hell. But no one can possibly doubt God’s compassion and love. He has demonstrated these qualities in His divine character, when...

He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness.

For His name’s sake.

Mark Stinnett

November 10, 2024

Psalm 23: The Shepherd Restores

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul…

--Psalm 23:1-3

Sheep can wander off from the flock and sustain injury or become easy prey. Another frequent danger for sheep is becoming cast down. A sheep is cast down, or cast, when it lies down to rest and shifts its weight so that it rolls slightly, drawing its feet off the ground. When a sheep realizes this predicament it will panic by working its legs and body in an effort to stand up. If help does not come in time, the sheep will die.

A shepherd is well aware of the dangers of cast sheep and wandering sheep. He constantly looks for signs of trouble. He will look to the sky for signs of circling buzzards whose eyes are also looking for signs...of dinner. The shepherd will frequently count his sheep to insure that none are missing. If there are signs of predators or a missing sheep, the shepherd will immediately go in search of the helpless sheep in order to restore it to the flock under his watchful eye.

There is an interesting human parallel to the sheep that is cast down. The human dilemma is that of being ‘downcast.’ An individual can be going along life’s way only to fall into desperate circumstances: job loss, family troubles, financial stress, frustration with fellow Christians, problems at work, health issues, death of a loved one, etc. These can bring about a loss of self worth, increased anxiety, a sense of lostness, a burden of guilt, or other negative feelings. It is easy to panic and in frustration lash out at friends and family. These feelings can lead a person into a pit of despair and self-pity. Having given up hope some have even given themselves over to a ‘sinning spree.’

Like sheep that wander off, we can easily wander spiritually. There may be no real ‘life drama,’ we simply lose focus on the truly important things, or become distracted by the world. Little by little we veer off God’s path. When we stop and look up, we can be frightened by our lostness.

We are sheep, prone to wander, and easily frightened by the worries of this life. But our God is the Great Shepherd who restores souls.

————————————

A store manager calls over the intercom for the mother of a crying child who has wandered off. Their reunion is a mixture of hugs and kisses along with a tender scolding: “You MUST stay close to mommy,” (hug). “I was worried about you,” (kiss). “Don’t run off from mommy, I love you.”

Love and rebuke in the same breath: Restored.

God warned Israel of the bold and harsh discipline that he would use if they turned away to other gods. Yet with every level of escalating discipline there was tender encouragement promising that He would accept them when they returned to Him. (Read Leviticus 26.)

Jesus seemed harsh when he rebuked Peter: “Get behind me Satan.” He seemed so ‘matter-of-fact’ when he foretold Peter’s denial. Yet, Jesus restored his soul as he commissioned Peter with the task of shepherding His sheep.

The father of the prodigal son represents God. The son was always His son: when he left home, when he was lost, when he returned. We are the son.

Our God is the faithful and loving shepherd who, aware of all external dangers as well as our own personal problems and frustrations, watches over us. He finds us and He puts us back on our feet. Restoration is not about what we do, but about God’s acceptance of us when we are weak and downcast. However, restoration is possible only if we turn to God in humility and faith. Then, we will regain our strength because...

He restores my soul.

Mark Stinnett

November 3, 2024