Being the Prodigal's Servant

A Calling Devotional. Luke 15:17-27

I don’t know about you, but when I reread the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), it’s easy to identify who I might be. I might be the Prodigal, who believes that doing things her own way would be better, only to end up failing miserably. Or I might be the Older Son, grumbling about how someone who used to be disobedient now gets to be “God’s favorite” (no such thing). But as I was lying in bed the other night and thinking about how I could further God’s will, this story came to me. I was struggling with fear—fear of the unknown, fear of what could happen, fear of false scenarios that I would make up. But I was only fearful because I wanted to make sure I didn’t mess up God’s will. I didn't want to disobey God. And that made me think: who would I be in this story? Because I’m not rejecting God, nor am I grumbling when someone else gets their blessing before I get mine. So how did I fit in this story? Who am I when I don’t relate as much to the characters as I used to? At this point of my spiritual walk, how does this story help me?

Now obviously, there are going to be times where we mess up and make mistakes. And those will lead us to our valleys, to our demises, and force us to cry out to God for help. And those moments can be used by God, to remind us of His glory and honor and power. But sometimes…sometimes we get into messes and problems that were unnecessary to begin with. My issue was this: I did not want to be like Abraham and Sarah, who took matters into their own hands because they couldn’t trust God fully (Genesis 16:2-6). I didn’t want to be Rebekah, who let her favoritism of Jacob cause her to devise a scheme against her own husband (Genesis 27:5-29). And I didn’t want to be Saul or David, who at the height of their wealth and power and promise decided that they wanted more, and that they were the only ones who could get it (1 Samuel 15:9; 2 Samuel 11-12). I didn’t want to be the Prodigal, leaving and rejecting. Nor did I want to be the Older Son, who felt entitled because he was with the Father all the time.

So who could I be? The servants of the story. In the story of the Prodigal son, the only characters that were without a flaw were the Father and the Servants. The Servants were quoted as “having bread enough to spare” (v. 17) and “were merry” during the feats (v. 24). They also passed on the message of the Prodigal’s return to the Older Son, making them messengers for their Master (v. 27). Finally, when the Prodigal son had returned initially, he only sought to be a Servant to his Father, but his Father exalted him and made him the center of a rejoicing feast (v.22).

The Servants in the story have these characteristics:

·      Already a child of God/A member of His house (v. 17)

·      Obey God when He gives an order (v. 22)

·      Rejoices when someone returns home (v. 24)

·      Enjoys the celebration (v. 24)

·      Brings the message of “good news” (v. 27)

Here’s the thing: God wants to work with us in furthering His will. He says that He will guide us and teach us (Psalm 32:8) and that we will hear Him guide us (Isaiah 30:21). He is with us wherever we go (Joshua 1:9), and He alone knows our paths (Job 23:10,14). He knows the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11) and whatever He wills, it will happen (Isaiah 55:11; Matthew 8:8-10). When we try to obey God’s voice and go where He leads, then that is furthering His will. And even when we stumble or fall, God already saw it coming, and has a plan to turn it around for good (Romans 8:28). This should encourage us all to not be afraid of stepping out in faith. My fears held me back so much I would choose to not do anything at all. I was always “waiting for God to speak” or waiting for a sign. I was so scared of messing up His will that I forgot His promises of never leaving me. And that somehow became a cripple to me. I was fearful of disrupting God’s will, even though I know that he works it all together for my good (Romans 8:28; Genesis 50:20). God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind (1 Timothy 1:7). And the more we remember that He is with us, the bolder we can be in going to get what He has placed in our hands (Joshua 6:2). 

So, the next time you think about the Prodigal Son, and you can’t really relate to either Prodigal or Older, try to relate to the servants, because they accurately describe what we should be. Being called a Servant of God is one of the highest—if not the highest—compliments we as Believers can receive. When Samuel first encounters God, his first words are “speak Lord, for your servant hears.” (1 Samuel 3:10). God brags over Job, referring to him as His servant (Job 1:8; 2:3; 42:7-8). When Jesus welcomes us back home forever, He will call us a good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:21). And Jesus even called himself a servant (Mark 10:45). We are all called to serve, for faith without works is dead (James 1:22-25; 2:17).

When you aren't the Prodigal, abandoning and rejecting God…

When you aren't the Older Son, judgmental and jealous…

Then be the Servant, who was consistent in living in prosperity, obeying God, rejoicing with others, and delivering the good news. 

----Sherry Amor