06-15-2025 Father’s Day

Text: Luke 15:11-32

                   For many, Father’s Day is a time for phone calls, greeting cards, and family meals.  I was fortunate to have a father who made a difference in my life because of how he loved God, followed Jesus, and was present in my life.  As we look back, we can see how amazing it is to see the stages that we all go through in our relationship with our dads.  Someone once said:  At age 4 we say, ‘my dad can do anything.’  At age 7 we say, ‘my dad knows a lot.’  By age twelve we’re saying, ‘oh well, we can’t expect Dad to know everything.’  At age 14 we say, ‘my dad is hopelessly out of date and old fashioned.’  By the time we reach 21 we’re saying, ‘what should I expect, he just doesn’t understand.’  At age 25 we begin to say, my dad knows a little but not too much.’  By age 30 we say, ‘I need to find out what dad thinks.’  At age 40 we ask, what would dad have thought?’  By the time we hit 50 we’re saying, ‘my dad knew everything.’ And by 60 we usually say, ‘I wish I could talk it over with dad just one more time.’

                   There aren’t a lot of good role models today when it comes to dads.  But there is one we can look to that is tucked away in the parables of Jesus.  He is overlooked because he allowed his two sons to take center stage.  We know it as the parable of the Prodigal Son and it’s found in Luke 15:11-32.  The truth of the parable is that both of the sons were prodigal at different points in time.  A prodigal is one who is wasteful of their money, possessions, attitudes, emotions, and time.  In our text the younger son was prodigal in choosing the pleasures of sin while the older son was prodigal in choosing pride of self.  But because the father was who he was, the prodigals became what they should be.

                   We learn in verses 12-18 of our text that the family had some wealth as evidenced by the servants.  There is no mention of the mother so perhaps she had passed away; and this father was approachable as we see when his younger son, who was immature and rebellious, asked his father for his portion of his inheritance.  The young man then took what was given to him and went to a far country.  But it didn’t take long for him to spend all that he was given with riotous living.  Then he experienced the famine that had taken over his chosen land.  Because he had no resources to support himself, he was forced to beg and ultimately take a job working in the fields to feed pigs – which was the most degrading occupation in which any Jew could ever engage.  Not only did he have to feed them, but he also had to eat their swill or garbage.  This son had dreamed of making a name for himself but instead found the temptation of sin.  He dreamed of finding adventure but instead found agony.  He dreamed of wealth and prestige but instead found poverty.  He dreamed of romance but only found rags.  He dreamed of happiness but instead found himself feeding the pigs. 

                   Then finally one day he realized just how low he had gone.  He began to think of his father and how his servants would have enough to eat with a lot to spare.  We find in verse 18 that he decided it was time to go home where he would confess his sins against Heaven and before his father.  He knew his father was associated with Heaven and like the Heavenly Father, was approachable.  He didn’t plead extenuating circumstances, nor did he blame or complain how others had done wrong by him.  He placed the blame directly on himself for he knew confession of wrongdoing is always demanded by God.  His father had set an example that gave him a good foundation.  Throughout his young life he likely saw his father at prayer, studying scripture, and living by God’s commandments and laws.  When he thought of Heaven, he thought of his father. 

                   As he got closer to home, we learn in verse 20 that his father never stopped looking for his return.  When he finally saw his son approaching, he ran to him greeting him with a hug and kiss.  This dad may have been out of breath, but he was never out of love for his young son.  The time away made no difference, his son’s rags, empty pockets, or likely smell of pigs made no difference.  His son was alive and home and that is all that mattered.  In verses 22 through 24 he instructed the servants to bring the best robes to put on his son and prepare a meal to celebrate his return.  He had feared that his son was dead but now he rejoiced because he is alive and home again.  What was lost to him had now been found.

                   In verses 25-31 we learn that it was time for the older son to be prodigal.  He saw the activities of the servants and asked what was going on then became angry and refused to participate.  His father went and pleaded with him to join in the celebration.  Instead, he reminded his father of the years he had worked hard for him, never disobeyed his orders, yet was never given as much as a young goat so he could celebrate with his friends.  He was unable to forgive his younger brother because he was bitter, jealous, and resentful.  What he didn’t realize was that his prideful behavior separated him from his father’s love just as his younger brother was when he was away.  His father then reminds him in verse 31 that he has always been with him and that everything he has will one day be his.  His brother, who was feared dead, is alive and home again.  Jesus’ story doesn’t tell us if the older brother turned his thinking around, but we are clearly being shown the love this father had for both his sons regardless of their behavior. 

                   This is the perfect role model for Christian fathers.  Teach your children the things of found in the Bible and always be an example to them by living a Christian life.  When they rebel as youngsters, discipline them to teach them right from wrong, even when it’s hard not to give in to their push back to the discipline and consequences you have laid down.  And always be united with moms when disciplining.  Then, when the children are grown and leave the nest, they will be equipped  to live the right way because of how you lived your life and raised them.  Lack of discipline is the same as lack of love; it’s taking the easy way out.  The best path to take with children is not letting them have their way but giving them rules to live by.  Fathers that do this will serve their children well from childhood to adulthood.

                   Like the father and sons in our story this morning, our Heavenly Father is always approachable, and always forgiving when we confess our sins, vowing to Him to do better and not repeat the same sins.  Just because we trip and fall at times on our Spiritual walk, we are never away from the hearing ears or loving embraces of our Heavenly Father that loves us beyond measure and will forgive us when we confess our sins to Him.  Just as fathers must enact consequences when their children misbehave, God will give us consequences for our sins, but He will never leave us.  If you find yourself unable to feel the presence of God in your life, it’s because you have backed away from Him.  He will never back away from you.  Fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters look within your hearts and see if you are living your life as Jesus lived while on earth.  If not, take time to study your Bible daily, pray often, ask for forgiveness, and ask for help in correcting your mistakes.  Like the younger son in our story, we are always welcomed into the arms of our loving Heavenly Father.

                    Until we meet again, may God bless you and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.