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

We Own Our Lips!

Listen to the boast of the ungodly:

We will triumph with our tongues;

We own our lips –who is our master?

--Psalm 12:4

Just prior to this boasting, David described the one who lies to his neighbor through flattery and deception. We are surrounded by the same kind of flattery and deception in our current society. It breeds mistrust and shallow relationships.

David wrote that empty speech, lies, and boasts describe the ungodly and faithless person.

Jesus said to let your “Yes” be “Yes” and let your “No” be “No.” This was in response to the way in which the people would make a claim or a promise. To swear by the temple was a strong vow. But to swear by the gold in the temple was even stronger. Jesus taught his followers to speak truth with no disclaimers or qualifications or hidden meanings.

Have you ever rationalized a white lie in order to avoid an embarrassing truth? Some call it tact (though that is a gross misunderstanding). We own our lips! Aren’t we clever?

Have you ever greeted someone with words of warmth and interest, yet the greeting was empty. We own our lips! Aren’t we clever?

Have you ever twisted the truth to keep someone from getting hurt? It actually made things go better! We own our lips! Aren’t we clever?

Have you ever made a bold claim or promise without really thinking about whether you could keep your promise? People are impressed and perhaps even inspired. We own our lips! Aren’t we clever?

Have you ever told the truth, but in a way as that intentionally give you an advantage? We own our lips! Aren’t we clever?

It wasn’t adultery, it was an affair. She isn’t rebellious, she’s a free spirit. I am not being deceptive, it is a gentler way to say things. We own our lips! Aren’t we clever?

Have you ever showered someone with complements…so you would appear encouraging? Flattery gets you everywhere. We own our lips! Aren’t we clever?

The joke was a little ‘shady,’ but it was soooo funny. We own our lips! Aren’t we clever?

Have you ever used a word that rhymes with an obscene word or that only suggested something of a sexual nature? We own our lips! Aren’t we clever?

We live in a country that guarantees free speech. It is our first amendment right! We own our lips! Aren’t we clever?

Churches have argued over doctrine. Christians have split hairs wrangling over words. Churches split. We own our lips! Aren’t we clever?

Help, Lord, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men. Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception. May the Lord cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue that says, “We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips – who is our master?”

--Psalm 12:1-4 (NIV, 1984)

Is the Lord your Master or your arrogant lips?

Truth and genuine encouragement, or silence!

Mark Stinnett

August 11, 2024

What Are Your Plans?

She shook my hand, and, almost stammering, finally said, “I really wanted to complement you on today’s sermon...I just don’t want you to get a big head.” She grew up learning the danger of pride. She was being careful to guard against putting a stumbling block in front of me by tempting me with pride.

I jokingly assured her that I would not take what she said seriously. (We laughed.)

I accept heartfelt compliments and take them seriously because I have walked in those shoes. What I mean is that I have listened to teachers and preachers who have opened God’s word to my mind in such a meaningful and exciting way that I have expressed my thanks with personal compliments.

Even so, that particular Sunday has stuck with me. The problem of pride is very real, and my older friend understood. She also understood how much more problematic pride is for youth. Lacking the breadth of knowledge and wisdom gained only with passing time, young people, especially those in their teens and twenties , but even in their thirties, can easily fall into pride.

I sometimes cringe when I hear graduating seniors speak of their immediate and future plans. They tell of all the things they will be and do. Some talk about post-graduation education, others, employment. Some talk about why they will engage in their next endeavor, a stepping stone to something greater, job security, a sizeable income, great service to others, etc.

I suppose it is not surprising that I have never heard a young person say that he/she aspires to be righteous or to be godly. The reason? That doesn’t seem to be a lofty goal in life.

Loftiness. That’s the real problem. Whenever a person lifts himself up he is in trouble. Several related words appear in the book of Proverbs: pride, arrogance, haughtiness, boasting. Each has something to do with elevating oneself. Listen to Solomon’s wisdom:

Pride goes before destruction,

and a haughty spirit before a fall.

—Proverbs 16:18 (ESV)

One’s pride will bring him low,

But he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor. 

 —Proverbs 29:23 (ESV)

Haughty eyes and a proud heart,

The lamp of the wicked, are sin.

—Proverbs 21:4 (ESV)

Jesus said, “The eye is the lamp of your body” (Luke 11:34). That seems to be what Solomon meant, only he was specifically focused on haughty eyes. So, he called them “the lamp of the wicked.” Notice that pride and haughtiness are not merely things that are not recommended or unwise, they are sin.

Do you want to talk about your plans? Great!

Do not boast about tomorrow,

For you do not know what a day may bring. 

 —Proverbs 27:1

Talk about your plans. Just remember, you do not know if you will wake up tomorrow. Humbly tell people, “This is what I am planning to do.” Do not boast in the uncertainty of tomorrow.

One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, 

but a fool is reckless and careless. 

 —Proverbs 14:16

Turn away from boastful words. It is a fool who is reckless and careless in what he says. Do not sin by prideful boasting.

Mark Stinnett

June 4, 2023