Where Are Our Younger Brothers & Sisters?

A man had two sons…

The older brother stayed at home and “did everything his father asked.” The younger brother left home with an early inheritance, partied and lost everything (yeah, I’m talking about the story of the Prodigal Son).

Here’s some food for thought:

Perhaps the older brother made life miserable for the younger brother and provided the motivation for him to leave home.

Maybe the older brother’s stern, unhappy, self-righteous, all work / no play attitude pushed the younger brother to reach out for something more enjoyable.

In the two other “lost” parables Jesus gives in this same teaching (lost sheep, lost coin), a search is made for the lost things.

Here’s some more food for thought:

Perhaps it was the responsibility of the older brother to go searching for his younger brother…

Do you remember Cain’s response to God when asked “Where is your brother?”

He said to God, “What, am I my brother’s keeper?”

Hmmmm.

Yes.

You are.

That’s why God asked.

And maybe He’s asking us “older brothers” (those of us who have been in church for a long time) today, “where are your younger brothers and sisters?”

Perhaps we have made life miserable for the younger brothers in the church and provided them with the motivation to leave.

Maybe our stern, unhappy, self-righteous, all work / no play attitudes have pushed the younger brothers to reach out for something more enjoyable.

Maybe we are responsible.

Maybe we are our brother’s keepers.

C’mon older brothers!

Let’s get the Father’s heart for our younger brothers and sisters.

When the Father begged his son (the older brother) to come inside and celebrate, he told him: “Dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours.” (Luke 15.31).

It’s time for us older brothers to see ourselves as co-owners in our Father’s household…

God’s mission and agenda is our mission and agenda.