A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. Luke 15:13 (NLT)
Everyone has a story to tell about prodigals. Prodigal children, or perhaps, prodigal siblings, or even prodigal parents. When we understand what is at stake, it is agonizing and causes us to have sleepless nights.
As parents, we do our best to raise our children in the “fear and admonition of the Lord.” We do not claim to be perfect, but in the exercise of free will, prodigals want to see what the world has to offer them. We can find ourselves in an uncertain place.
Satan tries to convince us that we are failures. We may even engage in soul-searching, wondering what we could have done differently. We look at the adult children of other Christ-followers who are serving God faithfully with a measure of envy.
The answers do not come easily. What can we do when we are no longer in a position of influence? As Christian pastors and leaders, what responses can we model for others? To endure, we must press into God and trust that he is at work. We must continue to pray and believe. Finally, we must be ready when our prayers are answered.
Here are some thoughts to encourage and build up our faith as we wait for God to answer our prayers.
Release Them to God
May everyone who knows your mercy keep putting their trust in you, for they can count on you for help no matter what. O Lord, you will never, no never, neglect those who come to you. Psalm 9:10 (TPT)
It is a natural impulse to want to intervene and “fix things” when loved ones choose a path away from God. Certainly, there is a place for counsel and warning, but in most cases, we are powerless to deter someone from making bad choices.
When the prodigal son asked for his inheritance, the text does not indicate that the father offered a protest. Almost matter-of-factly, the father distributed his assets. It did not take long for the son to leave, and because of bad choices his inheritance was soon wasted.
We do not have any indication whether the father received any news of his younger son’s desperate situation. In any case, he did not intervene. It was when the younger son came to his senses, that his situation began to turn around.
We must be careful that we do not interfere with the work that God is doing in a prodigal’s life. It is difficult, even heartbreaking, to see the results of bad choices, but prematurely intervening, before the lessons are learned, will not produce the desired results. We must trust that God is in control. Trust God, and release your prodigal to Him.
Do Not Become Bitter
Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many. Hebrews 12:15 (CSB)
When the prodigal son asked for his inheritance early, it was the equivalent of him saying to his father, “I wish you were dead.” It is extremely disrespectful, at any time, but in the culture of the day it brought shame to the father.
When our children turn their backs on our God and our values, it is a bitter pill to swallow. When we get together with other believers, especially other ministry leaders, we begin to compare notes about our families. Someone will mention that a son or daughter is leading a ministry, serving God faithfully. We feel like crawling under the table.
It can be difficult, but if we allow bitterness to take root in us, the writer of Hebrews tells us that it will cause much trouble and defilement for many people. We must guard our hearts. Having a prodigal is as much a test for us, as it is for them.
Not all Prodigals Leave Home
“The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, Luke 15:28 (NLT)
Just because the older brother did not leave home, it does not mean that his heart was with the father. He went through the motions, but inwardly he was full of resentments and bitterness. We think of the Scripture that says: These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Matthew 15:8 (NLT)
It can be easy to overlook prodigals who stay in place. They go through the motions. They comply with outward appearances, and even traditions. However, they are still estranged from the Father. While the prodigals who leave get most of the attention, it is important to pay attention close to home.
Watch Expectantly
So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. Luke 15:20 (NLT)
It may have been months, or even years, but the father never lost hope. Each day he went out, probably to a vantage point where he could see far into the distance. One day, his heart started beating a little faster. He saw someone coming. At first, he wasn’t sure, but then he recognized the walk of his son.
Laying aside all decorum and dignity, the father ran to meet his son. The son had prepared a speech, but the father interrupted. He quickly called his servants to bring the best robe, and a ring was placed on his finger. A feast was prepared because the father recognized that his son, who was considered to be dead, was now alive.
We must trust that our God is a God of restoration and reconciliation. We would love to see prodigals restored during our lifetime, but more importantly that they be restored to their heavenly Father. Then we will celebrate for all eternity. We need a reminder to wait with patient expectation.
Steve Ekeroth