A Prodigal God

prod·i·gal  (prd-gl)

Last week I read a book entitled, "A Prodigal God" by Tim Keller. It really isn't like me to read a book in a week but this is a fairly short book and I couldn't put it down - my kind of book. Tim Keller uses this provacative title to draw readers in. He doesn't really explain his title much in the book.The interested reader has to ferret it out. If you look at the second definition above ( which I pasted from thefreedictionary.com) it is actually a great definition of the God of the Bible.

Keller goes in depth interpreting the parable of the lost son. The first son leaves the Father by his free will to experience what he sees as freedom. The temptations of the world look so much better than living under the control of his loving father. He realizes when he hits bottom that he has wasted his inheritance and wants to return to the Father. He returns in shame just hoping to be one of his father's servants. When he gets there, the father welcomes him with open arms and plans a feast of homecoming. A perfect vision of the lost individual with a repentant heart, amazed at the abundant gifts of a forgiving father. 

But we often forget the other, elder brother. Keller reminds us that Jesus is speaking to a crowd that includes Pharisees. These parables follow the Pharisees commenting that Jesus receives sinners and eats with them (Luke 15:2). The elder brother sees it as unfair that the father bestows gifts and forgivness on this brother who blew his inheritance. The older brother was obedient to the father because he expected love and reward for his obedience. It got me to wonder am I obedient because I love God or because I feel it is expected of me or because if I am obedient, I will get blessings? In the end, Jesus leaves it up in the air that the elder brother ever joins the feast. The father invited him but his jealousy, anger and feeling of injustice didn't allow him to celebrate the lost brother's redemption. 

Keller cuts to the heart of modern believers. Why are we obedient?  Do we daily remind ourselves of that day when we came home to the Father and He greeted us with open arms? Do we realize that we are attending the Feast of Homecoming?

I highly recommend this book for it contains much more insight into this parable than I can relay in a blog.