The Lost sons

Luke 15. 11-32

So often this story is referred to as the parable of the Prodigal Son, and yet there are two sons in the story, and they were equally lost. If we concentrate on the experience of the younger, or so-called prodigal son, we could easily miss something that may be of more direct relevance and challenge to us.

The lost-ness of the younger son is obvious. It was demonstrated initially in the form of a request which, in its socio-historical context, was tantamount to wishing his father dead. Jesus’ listeners would have been profoundly shocked. Yet despite this, and despite the dissolute lifestyle financed by his inheritance, the father never wavered in his forgiving love.

But what of the older son? In what way was he lost, he who had never left the father’s side? Jesus was carefully drawing a picture of a man just like the men whose mutterings had prompted the story (15.2), and they probably had just enough spiritual perception to realise it.

Note what fuelled the elder son’s anger. He had done all the “right” things. He had never strayed. And how he resented the father’s delight in the younger son’s return! With an extraordinary honesty Henri Nouwen saw himself in the older son: “…how diligently I tried to be good, acceptable, likeable, and a worthy example to others…But with all that there came a seriousness, a moralistic intensity…that made it increasingly difficult to feel at home in my Father’s house.” (“The Return of the Prodigal”, DL&T, London 1994).

Wonderfully, Jesus’ story tells us that even if we have fallen into the trap of the elder son, the Father continues to love us and long for us to enter into his joy.
-Steve Bradbury

It's a good point- being or acting 'perfect/good' with out love is not what God calls for- but God forgives us if we stuff up in this area and I reckon can use our bad intentions for good. Should we not do a good deed because we don't feel like it or feel love towards the other person? - I don't think so- but thats not an excuse and love is something we constantly need to work on.
Also think we often but too much emphasis on behaving 'right' or being seen to be good rather than helping others out and actually being good. And then, because we've used so much effort and energy 'acting good' we think we can judge others who we think are just lazy and selfish while forgetting the love side (which is prob the most important aspect of 'being good').