Being a prodigal has mostly become a narrative applied to the wayward children of parents. I have heard many parents speak about their children being in a prodigal state, however parents can sometimes be prodigal children as well, because GOD is the Father of us all.
The word Prodigal refers to a wasteful person. When you understand that and go back to the parable that Christ taught surrounding the two sons and the father, as in the book of Luke chapter 14, you come to understand that both sons were prodigals because both were great wasters. The younger son squandered his inheritance in riotous living, however they both squandered the love of their father in selfishness and pride. The younger son’s story is the primary lesson, but the story of the older son is a secondary lesson of great value as well. Listen to what the Father said to the older son, which had bitterness in his heart due to misplaced values.
“31 Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours.” (Luke 15:31)
The older son, like many who confess to be followers of Christ, have missed the main blessing of life, which is the opportunity to know the Father. Look at what Christ says about life.
“3 Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.”
Material things are nice to have but absolutely nothing blesses the heart like divine love. Until that reality sinks in, you will tend to be a prodigal and squander relationships placed in your life to be a blessing. We know that divine love comes from GOD, so our relationship to Him is essential to even having divine love to give. However, the Lord has also blessed us with tributaries of His divine love in earthen vessels to also enrich our lives. Prodigals of all ages and roles have squandered blessed relationships with parents, siblings, friends, mentors, and others due to a lack of value for divine love. Divine love comes balanced on one side with disruptive truth, godly judgement, reproof, correction, and No’s, then on the other side compliments, affirmations, and Yes’s. Along with all of those aforementioned benefits of divine love comes forgiveness as well. This makes reconciliation possible if the prodigal decides to humble themselves unto repentance.
In the book of James chapter 4, he spoke about the desires that war within people causing division, strife, contention, and wars. The cross that Christ says we must carry daily in order to follow Him acts as a post to nail all of those worldly inclinations to, such as pride, arrogance, ambition, impatience, rebellion, stubbornness, incontinence, and fear. If we are willing to mortify those selfish tendencies from within and suffer for the sake of righteousness, then the Lord can purge that prodigal nature out of us, so that we can always be enriched by the flow of divine love that comes from His heart to fulfill us and to enable us to bless others.
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