It is interesting.
We just finished the series about the prodigal son at EMG and had three different viewpoints. The view of the fallen son, the father and the son whom was faithful to his father.
Now the story is found in Luke, and is probably the most recongnized parable in the bible. For those of us who don't know the story, the youngest son is fed up with working and asks his father for his inheritance, and then goes and squanders it and destroys himself. He then comes back, falls to his knees and begs his father for forgiveness. His father is excited to see him and throw him a party.
God has given us an inheritance; Jesus, and we have squandered what it is to love Jesus. We have taken Jesus for what we want, instead of doing what He wants.
The defintion of prodigal is "characterized by profuse or wasteful expenditure". The bible says that because of sin we were useless or a "waste" to God. We were a prodigal son or daughter to God, but then because of the "grace" of God, He sent His most treasured possession; His Son, to die for those of us who were a waste.
The father could have looked at his son and turned his face, but the bible says, that the father did not listen to his sons apologies, and yelled for his servants to throw his fallen son a party.
I find that most people who attend church are more like the older brother. They are so concerned with themselves and there needs, that they don't realize that the Father is throwing a party. We continue to work in the fields instead of coming in the house and experencing the fathers love.
I was listening to a podcast by Newspring church and Perry Noble makes an interesting statement about the story. The older son was angry with the younger son because he was there when his father mourned for his youngest son, he felt his fathers sadness, and cared for his father. If the oldest son really cared for his father, instead of working in the fields, he'd be out in the community looking for the fallen son.
We are so concerned with our own needs, that we lose sight of our Fathers heart. The Father has started a party for the lost, but we are in the fields working for ourselves instead of celebrating with the father.
I pray that we become connected with Gods heart, and become concerned with those who are lost, instead of being selfish.