| Thoughts on Luke 15: Add your own pork. |
A Good Son, BUT a Bad Brother
He’s a decaffeinated Christian, who won’t stay up all night, or sweat over a Brother.
Tonight, I wish that you would follow me along in Luke’s Gospel, Chapter 15, Verses 25 to 32. Let’s read please:
| Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. And as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. – Luke 15:25-32 |
In these seven verses I can see a picture of what’s happening in our Churches today. There’s no concern or love for our brother.
Now this elder brother carried a KJV Bible, didn’t smoke, didn’t have a television, had short hair, paid his tithes and offerings, didn’t support the Promise Keepers, and quoted half of the Bible. Oh yes! He shouted and danced on one foot, attended every camp meeting from Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Oh, he’d sit through six hour offerings and all the redeeming of suits, cars, wedding rings, and buying souvenirs of the camp (a $4.00 item for $100.00). I mean, a good “Funnymentalist.” He gave offerings so he could pull brownie points to preach. And he preached the same menu! T.V., cigarettes, the KJV, women wearing pants, Haynes underwear, using AT &T, Pokemon, WalMart, watermelon, cowboy boots, and birth control!
I say again; Yes, he was clean, and a good son! Yes, he read his Bible through 400 times, never got out of Church, and always with the Father. OH, HE WAS A GOOD SON, BUT A BAD BROTHER!
Please look at verse 25. He was in the field. You’d have to say that he was a worker, and I commend him for that. I know that his brother messed up and should not have done what he did. So I have to say the elder son was a good son BUT A BAD BROTHER. Now he never got in the hog pen but he still sinned against his brother and his Father
Sin Number One: ANGER
If you look at verse 28 you will see that he was ANGRY that his brother got right and come back home. Sometime read one of the most scalding messages JESUS ever preached in Matthew 5:22-24. Abortion is murder. But so is Anger! JESUS said that not only can you murder with a gun, but also in your heart. In verse 24, about leaving your gift at the Altar with the Priest; Now JESUS is our Priest, and he is saying, “I will not hear your prayer until you get right with your brother.” Did you hear that Mr. Loose Lips? He was not happy that his Brother came home and that now his Father was happy over that boy that broke his heart.
I believe, because I have seen this bunch, he wanted his brother to die out there in the hog pen, so he could preach all over, “If you get out of CHURCH, GOD will kill you!” He liked preaching that everywhere saying, “GOD WILL KILL YOU!” Now, there’s no doubt about the severity of GOD and his wrath. As the Bible teaches, but GOD would rather spare a son than slay a son, GOD had every right to kill David but he didn’t. I believe that every night at suppertime there was and extra plate set at the table, because the Father knew that boy was coming home. I know the good son (like some of you Pharisees) never said
“Father, I can’t eat thinking about my brother out in the world.”
“Father, I’m gonna fast and pray that he gets home safely.
“Father, I’m gonna find him and try to restore him. I know that will make you happy.”
“ Father, I want to be not only a good son, but a good brother.
Yes, this good son knew Galatians 6:1:
| Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. – Galatians 6:1 |
But he never went after his brother, never called him, and never sent a card or a cassette tape of some good preaching. But he would testify about his brother’s fall at every Preachers’ fellowship and camp meeting, but not one time picked up the phone or drove to say, “Brother, you have messed up, but we love you at the house. Please come home. YOU’RE my brother. I have tried to be a good son, but I don’t want to be a bad brother, because I could be in your shoes.”
Verse 28: He was so angry he would not go into the house.
Do you know that I have seen people leave the Church because somebody was restored, and they said, “if you let that person in this Church, I aint coming back.” I say, “Don’t let the door hit you”
Verse 30: He said this failure is THY son, not my brother
Sin Number Two: BOASTFUL
VERSE 29 Now look. He’s mad at the Father and up in his face bragging what he has done saying, “Hey ol’ man! I’ve been a good boy. I never ran with the prostitutes.” Watch now; no one but him said that his brother did that. Could it be that maybe that’s what he really would have done if he was in his brother’s place. Reminds me of the Publican in Luke 18 saying, “Oh I fast, I pay tithes, I go to camp meetings, I support moochinairies, and I don’t read Playboy, I drive the bus, and I home school. “Daddy, I’ve never been near a hog (he forgot his wedding pictures).”
Now this boy was so dumb. His dad killed a calf for his repentant son, and this boy says in verse 29, “you never gave me a kid.” Now you know a kid is a goat; not a cow! AMEN!!!!!!
I commend you for being a good son. That’s great. But you better never forget that GOD is in the business of restoring wrecked lives, whether it meets your approval or not.
You boast that you believe the KJV, do you? How many fallen have you went out after to restore them back into fellowship? LISTEN younger brother. If you fall out, don’t think for a minute that they will send a posse after you. Forget it!!!!!!! Now, you elder brothers; I plead with you tonight to be not only a good son, but be a good brother. The wounded and hurting are all around you. Forget what the brethren will say, and make the Father happy. Yes! You are your brothers keeper.