The Older Brother.....lost in the House!

Luke 15:25-30
[25] …and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. [26] And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. [27] And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. [28] And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. [29] And he answering said to his father, 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: [30] But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

We often forget the older brother in this story. Very often the focus is always on the prodigal son. But the older brother was also lost…..He was lost in the house! In reading the this story, we find that the older brother had a problem with his motives. When he hears that there is a celebration, he is angry and he refuses to go in to the party. His father comes out and gently pleads with him to come in with the others. His reply to his father is very telling of this boy’s heart.

In verse 29, he reminds the father of his faithful service and complains that he has never been given a feast for what he has done.

It is amazing how many books on church growth point out this problem. It is very common when a church begins to grow and focus on the lost that some people feel like they are missing out and become disgruntled. Those “in the house” want it to be all about them….just like the older brother.

The bottom line here is this:
1. The older brother did not care that his lost brother had come home.
2. The older brother did not care about that which pleased the father.
3. The older brother did not care about the glory of the father, he wanted the glory for what he had been doing.
4. The older brother did not even care about the father, he did what he did for what he could get out of it.
5. The older brother even saw his service to the father as “slavery”.

Watch out for the Spirit of the “older brother”. He didn’t serve his father out of love for the father, but out of a desire to help himself.

What are your motives for what we do? Paul tells us there is but one valid motive.
1 Corinthians 10:31 “…whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

To be continued……