The Older Brother

²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

Luke 15:29-30

In the parable of the prodigal's son, the oldest son is complaining about how unfair it is that his younger brother who didn't deserve the inheritance is unpunished, but also received blessings from his father coming back home. The other brother is upset because he's been "slaving" away for his father, and he hasn't received anything. His bitterness about the situation has set him apart from the celebration of his brother's homecoming.

Though I have been through the young brother's steps of falling away from Christ, nowadays I can relate more to being the older brother in this parable. I feel like God's inheritance for me is no longer a freely given grace, but a rightfully deserved gift that I should receive. When people are blessed, I covet and wonder why God isn't blessing me the same. Obeying Christ has become a chore in order to receive the blessings He freely gives, not out of obedience. Christ died on the cross out of mercy, and gave us eternal life out of grace. Nothing is deserved. NO amount of work I do gives me claim to his inheritance. I'm being ungrateful.

Your grace and mercy is undeserved. Forgive me for seeking more than what I think I'm allowed... Which is nothing. God help me to be more humble and serve with love rather with an attitude of slavery. Change my perspective and humble me.

In Jesus Name
Amen