Unfaithful Profit

“And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.” (Lu 15:31 AV)

The obedient son had a problem with the extravagance which the father spent to welcome the prodigal home.  He was envious that such a fuss was made for one who was a great disappointment.  He was jealous that his faithfulness and obedience was not recognized nearly as much as the repentance of someone who had done damage to their home.  However, the damage done was only to himself.  The father gave his son his inheritance.  Something he would have done anyway.  The household was not out anything.  What we want to consider is a proper perspective.  The proper perspective for those who are obedient.  That is, faithfulness always pays.

From the time the prodigal left, all the father had become the elder son’s.  That means, from the time the younger son left, any future investments and returns because the eventual property of the elder brother.  This also suggests the share of material wealth that would have been the younger’s to inherit, would now transfer to the elder.  Putting it more clearly: assuming the younger demanded his inheritance at the age of twenty.  The legal age of an adult male at the time.  Let’s further assume the father was thirty years older than his youngest and would live to the age of seventy.  That means, there would be twenty years of returns that would go to the elder son only.  In other words, the younger’s foolish decision just may have doubled the elder’s inheritance.  This understanding will help us greatly when we are concerned over the failure of others to be faithful to the work of the LORD.

There really should be several responses.  The first is compassion.  Knowing the younger forfeited future blessings and squandered present ones, the elder should have seen such waste and had compassion on his brother.  Second, the fact that he survived his rebellion and returned to reconcile should have produced joy in the heart of the elder.  But third, the sense the father is just and will not forget the faithfulness of the elder should resolve any feelings of envy, jealousy, or even self-righteousness.  There is a temptation to become resentful at others who could be more faithful but are not.  We can stew about it.  We can become bitter about it.  Just like the elder brother.  Or, we could take satisfaction that our faithfulness does have a reward and the unfaithfulness of others may just increase our own blessings.  If there are fewer going out soul-winning, that only means there are more doors for me to knock on.  If there are few willing to work a work day, that only means there are more rewards to be gained by selfless service on my part.  If there are fewer preachers, that means I have the privilege of preaching to bigger crowds.  Don’t misunderstand.  I pray for the faithfulness of all God’s children.  There are enough blessings to go around for us all.  But if some are not faithful, we will not be resentful.  We will have compassion on them and help them to see the blessings they forfeit. We will also take comfort that God remembers and rewards faithfulness regardless of the choices of others.