Are you a driven person? Do you know the unconditional love of God? English author Charles Dickens famously wrote ‘A tale of two cities,’ a novel set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. But Jesus told an even more famous story about two brothers. One is very well known as the Prodigal son, who got into big trouble by living a wild and rebellious life but who then returned to his father and received an amazing and undeserved welcome home. The other son, the elder brother, however, was very upset about this. His reaction showed the true state of his own heart. For he also needed to be reconciled with his father and to discover his love.  

There is much about this story of the elder brother that many churchgoers and good and faithful Christians may find that they can identify with. For it is more than possible to serve God without really experiencing the love of God and the many blessings that we can enjoy each day. As we read Luke 15:25-32 we can learn from the older brother’s story after the return of his Prodigal brother because, although he seemed to be good and responsible, he had some big issues that needed changing in his life. 

1. The older brother was angry and resentful at the blessing being given to his brother (Luke 15:25-28) 

2. The older brother had the mentality of a slave not a son (Luke 15:28-29) 

3. The older brother was judgmental (Luke 15:30; Matthew 9:10-13; John 8:3-7) 

- The father tried to make him see that he was a son not a servant (Luke 15:31; Galatians 4:7; 1 John 3:1) 

- The father tried to show him that he was missing out on the blessings he had already been given (Luke 15:31) 

- The father tried to get him to celebrate mercy over judgement (Luke 15:32) 

Apply  

1. The older brother was angry and resentful at the blessing being given to his brother (Luke 15:25-28). When the younger brother left home and wasted his life and family money, it was the dependable older brother who faithfully continued working to help keep everything going. So, when he heard that his younger brother who had caused so much disruption and trouble had come back home, he was not pleased. And when he heard that his dad had put on a special party for him, he was very angry. The older brother decided not to celebrate with his family and missed out on this amazing moment of restoration with his brother because he was carrying so many negative feelings in his heart. Perhaps you too have carried on faithfully serving in your family and in the church but in your heart a lot of anger has built up. Maybe you feel put upon and taken for granted. Inside there is a lot of resentment bubbling away. And maybe that’s why churchgoers can sometimes seem so bitter and miserable to those outside of the church. They have unresolved bitterness of heart. Do you have some anger issues in your heart that needs dealing with?  

2. The older brother had the mentality of a slave not a son (Luke 15:28-29). The brother’s first response was very telling of their relationship. He saw himself more as a servant of the father than his son. He saw himself as a slave who never once disobeyed or did anything wrong. And he felt totally unappreciated. He had what we could call a victim mentality and had a lot of self-pity. He tried to earn is his father’s love, blessings, rewards and acceptance by working hard. He did not realise that his father loved him unconditionally, regardless of the way he was “slaving” away. Maybe that is something you can relate to.  

3. The older brother was judgmental (Luke 15:30). The bitterness that the older brother had in his heart resulted in a lot of judgement and criticism towards his younger brother. He could see his brother’s sins, but he could not see how hard his own heart had become. He felt that he was justified in looking down on him. Jesus encountered this condemning attitude at different times in his ministry (Matthew 9:10-13; John 8:3-7). Religious people can be very critical and mean spirited. They are like the elder brother in this story who don’t have an experience of God’s grace. But the father wanted him to discover this just as much as he wanted the younger and seemingly worse son to receive his mercy and forgiveness. 

Having seen these three bad attitudes of the elder brother let’s see how the Father dealt with him: 

- The father tried to make him see that he was a son not a servant (Luke 15:31). There was a big difference in perceptions. The father perceived the elder brother as his son, but the eldest son perceived himself as a servant. The older dutiful brother constantly did his best to please his dad, but he didn’t understand how much his dad loved him anyway. Because he saw himself as a servant, he perceived his dad as a boss. But his dad was not his demanding boss but his father who viewed his son with great pleasure and unconditional affection. In the same way we cannot earn God’s love, and He doesn’t expect if of us either. If we accept Jesus into our hearts, we are part of God’s family. We are adopted as God’s children (Galatians 4:7; 1 John 3:1).  

- The father tried to show him that he was missing out on the blessings he had already been given (Luke 15:31). The older brother was so focused on what his brother received that he did not realise how much he already had. All the time the prodigal brother was away from the father and blowing his inheritance, the older brother already had constant access both to his father and to his inheritance. He was already blessed, but he couldn’t enjoy it because of his servant mentality. Just like the older brother missed out on having a close relationship with his father, we need to be careful that we are not to be so busy serving God that we miss out on enjoying a daily relationship with the Lord Himself and what it means to truly be a son or a daughter of God our Father. We can enjoy daily blessings by walking close with the Lord as well as being confident of blessings to come on earth and in heaven. 

- The father tried to get him to celebrate mercy over judgement (Luke 15:32). If the angels rejoice over one sinner who repents, how much more should we be happy when others are blessed, particularly those close to us? We should not compete, compare or criticise natural or spiritual brothers and sisters. Rather when we are secure in God’s great love for us, we should celebrate when others can receive God’s goodness and mercy and join the party. Are you like the elder brother who needed to come into close relationship with God the father? You may have been dutiful and faithful, but do you know you are loved? Do you know you don’t have to perform to be accepted? Do you know that God wants you to daily enjoy every blessing He has provided for you? Pray today to have a softened heart and enjoy God’s grace.