June 27, 2011
Missing Home Wk 2: The Older Brother
Posted by Michael
Learn:
Luke 15:1-2, 11-32
1 Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Main Idea:
Jesus told the Parable of The Prodigal Son to both the tax collectors and Pharisees. The story would have been good news to the tax collectors but a slap in the face to the Pharisees, because they would have identified the most with the older brother. There are three major traits of the older brother. First is resentment. He resents his brother for leaving, and resents him even more for being welcomed back by the father. The danger of resentment is that it begins to feel good. If you don’t let it go, it will drain you of joy and grace. Another trait of “older brothers” is complaining. The older brother in the story claims he has never disobeyed a single command, which just isn’t possible. Even if he outwardly obeyed everything his father said, his heart was filled with jealousy, pride, bitterness, envy, self-righteousness, and condemnation. He assumed his brother was having a better time than him and wanted to be compensated for it. A third trait is a judgmental attitude. The older brother keeps pointing out the younger brother’s flaws. He refuses to offer grace to others even when he is offered it. Jesus ends the story on a cliffhanger; will the older brother join the party and rejoice at his younger brother’s return, or will he stew in his bitterness? At some point in life, we will be faced with that decision as well.
Know What: When you commit to following Jesus, you will either start becoming more like the Father or more like the older brother.
So What: We don’t get to play judge and jury with people; we have been shown much grace by the Father and need to offer the same to others.
Now What: Join the party and welcome home the younger brothers, even if it is someone who’s hard for you to love.
Discuss…
1. In what ways can you (either currently or in the past) relate to the older brother? Why do you think Jesus told this parable to both the tax collectors and the Pharisees?
2. The paths toward becoming more like the father and more like the older brother begin at the same place. How can someone with a genuine desire to follow Jesus take a wrong turn and end up like the older brother? What steps can you take to guard against this happening to you?
3. What are the dangers of allowing resentment to fester inside of you? Have you ever “enjoyed” the feeling of resentment? What are some ways of letting go of resentment and forgiving?
4. Have you ever felt like God owed you something because you were obedient to Him? What is the difference between following a set of rules and genuine obedience to God? What should we do if our inward attitude does not match our outward obedience?
5. Tim Keller has said that, “It is natural for younger brothers to think older brotherness and Christianity are the same thing.” Would you agree with that statement? If so, what are the implications of living life as the older brother did?
6. Who is one person in your life who you have an “older brother” attitude toward? If you’re not sure, here is a test: who is someone that you would resent if God blessed him or her? Why? How can you begin to move toward that person in love? How can you pray for them today?
Next Steps…
In Jesus’ day, the older brother would have had the responsibility to go out and bring the younger brother safely back home. In this parable, however, he refused. Take some time to pray for the “younger brothers” in your life. Ask God to give you wisdom on how to go after them in love and the courage to follow-through with what He says.
