Scripture Notes: The Prodigal, Part 2 (Luke 15)

The younger son in Jesus’ parable has decided that he wants to be his own man and that he needs the material resources to do it. He has greatly insulted his father, who actually responds with great love and generosity, knowing all the while exactly what is going to happen to his son. His son will have to experience the consequences of his bad choices; that is the only way he will learn exactly how bad they are. God does the same with us; He allows us to immerse ourselves in our sin so that we realize just how horrible it is.

So the younger son gathers up everything his father has given him and goes off to adventure in a far country. He leaves his father’s house, turns his back on his family, and proceeds to enjoy himself. But he has no sense of future needs, no sense of truly providing for himself. He gives in to the desires of the moment, again and again and again. He squanders all he has, letting it slip through his fingers. 

This is why he is called the prodigal son. We do not always have a good grasp of the meaning of “prodigal.” Usually we associate the word somewhat vaguely with wickedness, but really, it refers to an  extravagance, a lavishness, even and perhaps especially, to the point of wastefulness. This young man is so lavish in his living that his property disappears quickly, leaving him with nothing and in the midst of a famine at that. The country that has seemed so fine and fruitful is now barren, empty. 

Remember that when the father gave his son the property (as a gift really, for the son had no right to it), he also symbolically gave him his own life. The son has not valued that life, not cared for it or conserved it or treasured it. He has let it go, squandered it, actually driven it away, for the word “prodigal” derives from an ancient word meaning “drive forth.” We must ask ourselves, then, how we squander, how we drive out, God’s gifts and indeed God’s own life that He has shared with us. How have we been prodigal?