OPEN LETTER TO ALL KINGDOM PERSONS (2)

The younger son knew his place in the family. He knew he was a son who had rights and privileges. Granted, he didn’t manifest the same appreciation of his obligations, but he wasn’t going around working his hands to the bone trying to earn a baby goat, that he “might make merry” with his friends. On the other hand his elder brother sure knew a thing or two about service! He was serving the father diligently, but clearly with a servant’s mentality. He couldn’t muster enough courage to ask his father for even a kid to party with!

I was saying that the line between son-ship and servant-hood seems to have become blurred in the consciousness of many of us, kingdom persons. We say we believe what the Bible says; that we are sons of God, by adoption through the finished work of Jesus Christ, and in line with God’s original plan. But we live like servants or slaves.

Yet, the difference is clear. The Pocket Oxford Dictionary describes a slave as a “person who is owned by and has to serve another”; it defines a servant “person employed to do domestic duties” but says of a son, “male descendant or inheritor of a quality”. A slave is owned by his master and is not even accorded the dignity of a free-will. A servant has to earn his keep. A son is an inheritor.

The Bible illustrates the difference in a very popular story told by the Lord Jesus Christ himself. We call it the parable of the prodigal son. Its main theme was love, the unconditional love a father had for his son. And it is an illustration of the love that our heavenly father has for us. I am sure you know the story graphically told in chapter 15 of the book of Luke. Let’s explore it together.

I am very sure you remember him, the impatient young man, the younger of two sons who approached his father in these words: “…Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me (verse 12). The father obliged. The concluding part of verse 12 says “And he divided unto them his living”. This son, continues the story, soon thereafter “…gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want (verses 13-14). You know what followed; he sought work and got one feeding pigs, hungered so much that he would have gladly shared the pigs’ lunch, but they won’t let him. When he came to himself, as the Bible puts it, he said: “…How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”(17-19) He did as he had planned and the result must have astounded him. According to Dr Luke’s account his father saw him from afar off ran to welcome him with kisses and a warm embrace. Ignoring his plea to become a servant on account of having received his inheritance, “the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry (22-24).

This famous story has been told again and again to illustrate the unconditional love of God; and how we must emulate him. Correctly. The depravity of the wayward son has also been highlighted frequently to teach moral rectitude to all Christians, especially youths. Again, absolutely correctly. But let’s continue our exploration of the story.

As you well know, as the elder brother, of the runaway now returnee son, who had been at work for the father made his way home after a tiring day, he began to hear the sound of music and merriment wafting from his father’s house. Wondering if he had forgotten something, the Bible says he called one of the servants to inquire what the celebration was about. The servant replied: “...Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound” (27). He was livid with anger and, feeling unfairly treated, he refused to go in and join the merriment. Their father’s attempt to pacify him elicited this response: “…Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf” (29-30). To which, the father replied: “And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found” (31-32).

Indignation cannot be any more righteous than this. Indeed, that has been the focus of most teachings on this passage of scripture and it cannot be faulted. But a closer look reveals something more fundamental. The younger son knew his place in the family. He knew he was a son who had rights and privileges. Granted, he didn’t manifest the same appreciation of his obligations, but he wasn’t going around working his hands to the bone trying to earn a baby goat, that he “might make merry” with his friends. On the other hand his elder brother sure knew a thing or two about service! He was serving the father diligently, but clearly with a servant’s mentality. He couldn’t muster enough courage to ask his father for even a kid to party with! And that is in spite of the fact that his inheritance was readily available as evident from latter part of verse 12 which states that the father “divided unto them his living”.

The point being made here is while servants have to earn their keep, sons do not have any such obligations. No father provides for his son on the condition that he serves him. Fathers provide for their children out of love and as a duty. Masters pay their servants according the quality and quantity of their service. The Bible is very clear about this. Paul did not say my God shall supply all your needs according to how hard you’ve worked; it is according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (see Philippians 4:19). Does this imply that sons have no responsibilities; that they do no kind of work; or that they just sit idling by? Not at all. Sons serve in the Family Business; they work to grow the family enterprise; they serve in love not out of compulsion or in order to “put food on the table”. I shall come back to this presently.

An oft-quoted passage of scripture, the full import of which seems lost on many children of God is in the Book of Matthew, chapter six. It is a graphic depiction of the rat race which the servant mentality has pushed us into. And it goes on to give the father’s heart on the matter. The New Living Translation renders it this way: “… I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need (verses 25-33).

This passage had been widely seen and taught as an exhortation against anxiety - and it is. But it is much more than that. It is the Lord Jesus’ blueprint for true kingdom living. It is the prescribed lifestyle for kingdom persons who have successfully exorcised the servant mentality and have come into the fullness of son-ship. (CONTINUES NEXT WEEK)