“A Child’s Foolishness”

Luke 15

11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

22 But 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: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

25 Now his elder son was in the field: 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.

31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 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.

This is a very sad story of the two sons.

Things were fine at home and they lived comfortably, but the younger son wasn’t happy and asked for his inheritance.

It’s tragic for young people to become so foolish as this younger son. He had such high thoughts of himself that he demanded his portion of the inheritance. One can expect it from the younger son, as his brain was probably also still young and inexperienced.

It’s no small thing to have children. We thank God there are those children who are faithful to the Lord. We must look especially at the younger ones as they seem to get the satanic influence quicker.

It’s heartsore to see a parent leading his child into the forest, destroying his life by teaching them wrong. Every parent must be very careful with their children as their blood will be required of their hand.

You might rejoice to get children but woe to you if you fail to lead the child in the way of the Lord.

The foolishness of the younger son started with him demanding the portion of his inheritance. The father complied and not many days later he left his happy home for a far country on his own, going his own way.

God finds no pleasure in the death of the wicked. But if you choose hell then that’s where you’ll go.

In the Old Testament, if a child stubbornly refused to obey its parents it is to be stoned! There is still judgement for disobedience to God’s clear command. You cannot expect blessing if you do not walk in the way of blessing. Then your future would rather be cursed if you refuse God’s instruction, even while you look for blessing.

It didn’t take long for the son to squander all his inheritance with profligate living and soon he had nothing left. He didn’t even have food to eat.

Some wonder why they have constant trouble in their lives. Well God makes it clear that if you want a long satisfied life, obey your patents. You might think you know better than your parents, but it won’t take long from the time you think that before you lose all.

You might think your parents don’t understand, but you’re the one that doesn’t understand. Your parents’ desire is only your best interest.

We read that when he ran out of food he joined himself to a swine farmer. It implies that he even became homosexual. That’s the curse that would come upon you if you backchat, cheek your parents and stubbornly go your own way. You might think that you’re wiser than your parents but your future will be terrible. You’re so full of your own wisdom but that cunning of yours will drive you mad.

Write a letter and ask for forgiveness from your parents, before it’s too late. What type of child are you to your parents? If you couldn’t care less how you treat your parents – well, continue in your way and these curses will befall you.

However by the grace of God it dawned upon this boy that he had sinned against his parents and he begged for forgiveness, and acknowledged that he had sinned against his dad and God.

But this is astonishing, while the boy was afar off his father saw him, ran to him and embraced him! Note that his father didn’t run after him and compromised his principles when the child left home and lived a promiscuous life. It was not until the boy saw his sin and came to his father for forgiveness, only then were they united. The father did not go after his son into the pigsty. If you run after your child into his or her pigsty of sin, you become a pig too.

The heart of a parent is amazing. He embraced him and forgave him all, instead of keeping it against him.

The older brother was not the same as the father, but couldn’t accept that his father forgave him all after all the evil he had done. When he saw what his father did when receiving his brother back, he couldn’t accept it.

The older son should have understood well that he and his father was like one, but he saw himself as separate.

Are there some old Christians with the attitude of this older son? You must repent of that sin.

This father rejoiced when he had sons but later they brought great trouble to him. First he lost the younger son, and when he came back in repentance he lost his elder brother.

Don’t just be happy when you get children but fear lest they turn your head grey by their disobedience, stubbornly going their own way.

Don’t say your child is not yet born again. No, the Bible demands obedience from children, whether they are born again or not.