The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “The Other Son" for Monday, 16 March 2015 - Scripture: Luke 15:25 “Now his older son was in the field. As he came close to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked, ‘What’s going on?’ 27 The servant told him, ‘Your brother has come back, and your father has slaughtered the calf that was fattened up, because he has gotten him back safe and sound.’ 28 But the older son became angry and refused to go inside.
“So his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 ‘Look,’ the son answered, ‘I have worked for you all these years, and I have never disobeyed your orders. But you have never even given me a young goat, so that I could celebrate with my friends. 30 Yet this son of yours comes, who squandered your property with prostitutes, and for him you slaughter the fattened calf!’ 31 ‘Son, you are always with me,’ said the father, ‘and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead but has come back to life — he was lost but has been found.’”
“My son,” the father said, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 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.”[Luke 15:31-32 (NIV)]
The story of the lost son is one of Jesus’ most familiar parables. When we study the story, the relationship between the father and the son usually gets most of our attention. However, we sometimes forget the other son in the story — the older brother.
Remember when the younger brother came back home and his father threw a party to celebrate his return? The older brother refused to go. Instead, he spent his time pouting and complaining. Unfortunately, sometimes I can relate more to the older than to the younger brother. When I find it hard to rejoice when others rejoice or I complain when things do not go my way, I am acting like him. When I criticize the good efforts of others instead of focusing on God and pleasing God no matter what others do around me, I am acting just like that older brother. When I do not rejoice when others come back to a faithful walk with God, I am acting just like him.
At the end of today’s story the father and the younger son were still rejoicing, and the older son was still grumbling. Instead of being resentful we can focus our attention on God, on sharing the gospel of Christ with others, and on welcoming all “prodigals” on their way back to their Father.
The Author: Andy Baker (Tennessee, USA)
Thought for the Day: Because God has welcomed me, I will welcome others.
Prayer: Dear Father, keep us aware of our attitudes and actions that take us away from you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Prayer focus: Siblings
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