Read Luke 15:11-17A
Have You Come To Your Senses?
In the parable of the lost son, Jesus speaks of a man who had two sons and the younger son said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” This is a picture of a son who is selfish and has a broken relationship with his dad. A son is typically not going to get a share of the estate until the father dies, so for the son to demand his share is disrespectful and it’s like saying, “I wish you were dead.” But the father divided his property between his two sons.
Not long after, the son took all he had, set off for a distant country (another defiant act), and squandered his wealth in wild living (another foolish act). After he had spent everything, a severe famine hit the whole country and the son was in need. He hit such a low point that he was willing to hire himself out and do the most humiliating act: feed pigs which were unclean animals. He was so hungry that he was willing to eat the pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. Verse 17 starts off with “When he came to his senses….”
Let’s compare this broken relationship this son had with his father with our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Let’s see if there’s any correlation.
The son had a broken relationship with his father. He didn’t want to be around him. He didn’t want to spend time with him. He wanted his dad’s blessings but didn’t want to reciprocate that relationship. It was all about himself, his parties and having fun. It wasn’t about having daily fellowship with the father. It wasn’t about serving others, but being served. There was no growth in the relationship. Is that a picture of our relationship with God? We want God’s blessings but we want to live our life our own way versus God’s way. We love what the world offers and it has hindered the time we spend with God. There’s no spiritual growth and no fellowship with God and His children. You’re always too busy for the things of God but for some reason you are able to find and make time for parties and functions with the things of this world. Your priorities are messed up. How long can you sustain this life? At some point, something life-changing may happen that results in total brokenness and humiliation. I can only pray that at that time, “You come to your senses!” Have you come to your senses yet?
