Older Son Syndrome

Welcome back to episode number 3, in the Prodigal Teachings, Titled “Older Son Syndrome”. This week, we will be looking at the older son. Much focus has been put on his younger brother in the past, but I believe that there is a lot we can learn from the older son.

In Luke 15:25 we first encounter the older son, coming in from the field to find out why all the noise and celebration. He enquires of one of the servants, and finds that not only has his errant brother returned, but that his father has killed the fatted calf for a celebration of his return. The older son appears to be outraged that his father would welcome the younger son back, as he refuses to go in to welcome his brother back. The older son goes on to berate his father, as he moans about having followed all of the fathers instructions, yet he never got a party, with his friends. As I am writing this my eyes just opened to another amazing thing. Look closely at the next passage. After telling his father everything he did right, the son goes on to remind his father of what his brother had done wrong, “spending his money on harlots and riotous living”. This tells us that both the father and the older son knew where the younger son had been, and what he had been doing, before he returned! Although the father waited for his son to come home, he had been watching him all along, and so had his brother. Notice the Father’s response, he appears to be astounded at the anger, as He replies to his son, “How can you be angry? “You have always been with me, and all that I have is yours”.

I am just now seeing something that it would appear both the younger and older son have in common. Their focus was on blessing, rather than relationship. The younger son demanded what was his, and it appears through his reaction, that the older son also looks at what is left as his, and is angry that the father is wasting it. The father’s heart however, is very clearly shown. Nothing is more important to him than relationship, and nothing done in the name of restoring relationship is ever a waste.

As I reflect on the time that this passage was originally taught, I see what appears to be an obvious comparison, but also some others that were not so obvious to me before. Most of us are aware of how the Father in the story is a representation of God, but who are the sons? The younger son is actually the New Testament church. Mostly Jews, who had walked away from their teachings, fallen into sin, yet welcomed back and used by God. The older brother, in this case, is the Old Testament church, who had tried to keep all the commands, and therefor felt that they had EARNED the right to be the sole heirs to all of God’s blessings.

So how about today, does any of this apply to today?

Being of a very performance oriented personality, I see a lot of the older son syndrome in my personal life. Many times in my life, I see where I have tried to ply God’s hand with such things as what I could do for him, if he would just bless me, or how He needed to bless me if He expected me to continue doing all the things I was doing for him. I also see where the “older brother type jealousy” has burned in my veins, as God chose to bless someone else, instead of me, even though I had done, or at least could do, so much for him.

I find myself examining my prayer life, as well, at this point. Were most of my prayers somehow geared at blessing, rather than relationship? Have I been crying out for what I want God to do for me, instead of for relationship with him? Like the older brother, in the past have I missed the most important point?; that he is always with me!

I also find much application of this revelation in historical church occurrences. How many times have we seen a new move of God, frowned on by the current church? How many times do we have to witness a new move of God, where the “old” church refuses to go into the party, because it was not in their honor, then we see a split, as the now two churches move in their different directions. Sadder still, than this fact, is that after a couple of generations, or less, both of these denominations may both become “older brothers” insisting on having the parties on their terms. Then along comes another new move of God, and some of each of the existing denominations are separated further, by refusing to embrace their younger brothers, and more denominations are formed.

I believe that God has opened my eyes in the last few weeks to the real problem both in the story, and in the other examples. The older son assumed that the party was to honor his brother. (In fact, if you go back to two teachings ago, I even told you what an honor it was for the fatted calf to be served.) Yet I just now see, as I once again read the words of the Father. The party was not about honoring the son, as much as it was about celebrating the Father’s joy. This fact is told to us twice, as the father told both the servants and the older brother “ Let us eat and be merry, for my son who was then dead, is now alive again”. The older son, as should we, should have realized he was not being asked to honor his brother with his presence, but rather to honor his Father.

I believe that there is a new move of God afoot in our area, and I don’t think it is going to look quite the way any of us want it to. I also believe that the key, if you will to this outpouring will be in whether we older brothers in the church will be willing to welcome our younger brothers, as well as our fellow older brothers, for the sake of honoring our Father at His Party! Let’s think again of how denominations are formed from the above paragraph, and consider this: What miracles could we see in our cities if we all stepped away from the things that separate us, and simply show up at God’s party and said “Here I am God, Use Me!”?

Please understand that I am not saying that the varying denominations are bad either. In fact God speaks of how there are many parts to the body, and each one should and does function differently. The liver acts as a filter, and the heart acts as a pump, but each must work together to keep the whole body alive, and we need to bless our brothers and sisters who function differently than us. What I am saying, is that maybe it is time for the whole body to come to the party and participate in the Father’s Joy.

Now please let me make one thing perfectly clear. I am in no way saying that everything that has happened or will happen, in the name of our Lord, is pure and holy. Every new outpouring is delivered through earthen vessels, and therefor there will be imperfections. However, I propose that we filter all things through this: Will our presence bring glory or honor to God? If the Father is asking us to come, will we put down our preconceived notions about what the new church should look like, and just honor our Lord with our presence.

I hope that this passage will minister to you as much as it has ministered to me

May God Bless you Abundantly

Dave Ashcroft