What is Mine is Yours...

I've been looking at the story of the Prodigal Son.  Most people focus on the grace and forgiveness provided to the younger son...the one who defined the word "selfish."  That is great comfort; no matter how bad we are, we receive this incredible gift from a God who loves us.

But this time, I was really struck by the conversation between the father and the eldest son after the party starts.  As the elder brother comes in from the field--remember he is the one that has stayed home and done everything right...followed the rules...supported his father...fulfilled expectations...never disobeyed--he comes in from the field and asks (in a Greek verb tense that shows great expectation) "What's happening?"  You get the idea that perhaps he thinks the party is for him.  He has no reason to expect the younger brother has shown up.  He knows what he has been doing for God.  Finally, some recognition.

And the slave informs him...nope...not for you...for the younger son.  It's no wonder the elder son had his jockeys in a wad. 

True confession...as a teenager, I would often come home from "youth group" feeling like a total failure.  I didn't have a "testimony."  Couldn't say I was drinking/smoking/flirting/insert sin here and that I had been convicted and had rededicated my life to Christ and was so glad and grateful for God's mercy and forgiveness.  And then we had a party of tears and congratulations and "thank God's" and off we went, the saved into the arms of their  closest friends and me to my boring, sin-free life.  (OK...not sin-free, but somehow arguing with my sister didn't get the same response from the youth group.)

But I fully understand the frustration of the elder brother.  For those of us who don't squander our inheritance, where's the party?!  And, the elder brother refuses to come to the party.  For those of us who haven't been away...there's nothing.  For those of us who have done all that was expected, not even an thank you.

But it's the next verse that sturck me.  As the father stands with the elder son, he says, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.". 

All that is mine, is yours...  Here we are, those of us who are still at home, doing the right things.  We know there are expectations.  There is a to-do list.  There are rules to follow.  And if we do all that is expected, then the father will give us a party.  And we miss everything.  We forget the message, "all that is mine, is yours."  The party is for us now.  The fatted calf is ours...to celebrate with family or to invite our friends in.  This grace and celebration is already ours, always has been.  But, like the elder brother, we refuse to enter the party, to live in the grace, because we are working so very hard to earn the grace that is already ours.

It's one heck of a party.  And I'm getting the idea that I can party without having to eat pig slop.  God is good...all the time.