Failed But Not Finished - 12
Make Me Your Servant - Luke 15 Verses 11 to 24
Over these past weeks we have seen a number of Bible characters who failed badly, but God hadn’t finished with them. This week we have another message in the series "Failed but not Finished". There are very few stories as relevant to the day in which we live as the one told by Jesus, and recorded in the 15th chapter of Luke’s Gospel. It touches the hearts of all but the hardest, and challenges all but the most insensitive. It is the all too familiar tale of the boy who left home to make his mark in the big wide world, and ended up homeless and friendless. We will look at the story under three headings, Wanting, Wondering and Welcoming.
Wanting – Luke 15 Verses 11 to 12
The father is a well-to-do farmer and land-owner, with two sons and a good business. At first everything seems to be going well, until the younger son has itchy feet, longing for the lights and the big city life. As is so often the case, his whole life consisted of two words "Give me". As parents we have a great responsibility towards our children. Not only to love them and care for them, but to help them acquire a true sense of values. Giving them what they want isn’t always the best course of action. It often encourages them along a path of selfish indulgence. Whether or not this father had given in to his younger son too easily in the past we are not told, but as he came of age his one desire was to have everything that was coming to him and enjoy the good time life. As he pressed his father for his share, perhaps he gave in to his demands too readily. In next to no time he had divided up his fortune between the two boys, and the younger one was off to the bright lights and sweet music of the big city. He had a great time! Friends were plentiful as long as the money held out. He had no shortage of company, and bought his popularity with his father’s hard earned money. As Jesus told the story He said that the younger son "squandered his wealth in wild living". It doesn’t need much imagination to picture the wine, women and song that made up his life. But as is so often the case, when the money ran out so did his friends and we soon see him …
Wondering – Luke 15 Verses 13 to 16
What went wrong? Where did he slip up? Why didn’t he stay at home with all the love, support and security that was always there? Well might he wonder, for he had a father who loved him, and a comfortable home where he need never be in real want. Whatever made him leave? These are the kind of questions that young people often ask, as they sink ever lower in the society which has rejected them. And, as hunger gripped this young man, with no money for food and no friends for support he didn’t know which way to turn. It was just at that moment that a golden opportunity came his way. It was work! Now that hadn’t been his favourite subject in the past. He had enjoyed an easy life at home, with his father taking the responsibility and the servants doing the menial tasks. But surely work meant wages, and enough money to buy a decent meal. Then he discovered what the job entailed … feeding pigs. And the religion of his father and family despised such creatures and looked upon them as unclean animals. No, he couldn’t stoop that low.
What a failure he was! But then the terrible longing for food hit him again, and as much as he hated the very idea of feeding pigs, it was an opportunity he couldn’t let slip. So we see the young man from the prosperous farm feeding another man’s pigs, and actually wishing that someone would give him permission to eat the pig-swill. Just how long this went on for we’re not told, but as he sat by the pigs, wondering why they had food to eat and he didn’t, the misery of the whole situation struck him with full force. Here he was, the son of a wealthy farmer, who had food enough and to spare back home, sitting by the pigs of a stranger, making sure that they were well fed, whilst he was starving to death. It just didn’t make sense. Slowly but surely he came to his senses and a plan began to form in his mind. At last he plucked up courage and said "I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son, make me like one of your servants" (verses 18 and 19).
And so we see the young man, in his dirty and ragged clothes, making his way back to his father, truly repentant and ready to take the lowly place. Perhaps you are far away from home as you listen to this programme. Your family don’t know where you are or how to get in touch with you. Why don’t you make the first move? And make it now? You know they love you, despite all the rows and arguments. This man had failed but he wasn’t finished and the next section at which we will look is …
Welcoming – Luke 15 Verses 17 to 20
As Jesus continued to tell the story, it took a beautiful turn, for He said "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him" (verse 20).
What a brilliant development to the story, as the loving, caring father, threw his arms around the boy who had taken his share of the family fortune and had spent it in wild living. This is a lovely picture of a God who really cares. A God who gave His Son to recover men and women from their sinful lives. If there is genuine repentance He, too, will give us a warm and loving welcome. I may be talking to someone who has wanted to return to God for a long time. You, too, feel as though you have sunk to the same level that this young man did, as he fed the pigs many miles from home. May I encourage you today by assuring you that if God is speaking to you, then He has a purpose in it. You may have failed but God hasn’t finished with you yet. Will you come back to Him in repentance and faith, asking for His forgiveness and cleansing.
Then make sure you tell someone what you have done. And if there are family and friends who are worrying about you, why don’t you get in touch with them, and share the good news of your return to God with them.
In my ministry I sometimes have the privilege of counselling men and women who other people see as those who are "walking with the Lord". As they tell me their sad story it is clear that they are just like this young man in our story for today. They are away from God. It may be that you are seen as a respectable Christian man or woman, but you know the truth … and God knows! Why don’t you return to Him today in genuine repentance for you will find Him waiting, with wide open arms! Then humbly take your place again amongst His people.
In the next Bible character in our series we will see a man who was counted a failure by the world, but who "made it" in the end.