Intimacy Over Blessing

The story of the prodigal son is one we all know well. The wealthy father had two sons, the younger son demanded his inheritance now, and the father gave it. He went out and lived a wild life, squandering every last penny until he was envious of the slop the pigs were eating. He comes home and declares that he is no longer worthy to be called his son, if he could at least be his servant he would be content with that. But the father called for the fattened calf to be killed and a feast to be put together, for he had thought his son was dead, but is alive! 

The second son saw all the festivities for the younger, entitled brother and felt indignant. “I have been here the whole time, and you haven’t even had a goat butchered for me!” He had become bitter and even took on the victim role. (Luke 15:11-32) 

The part of this story that often gets overlooked is that neither of the sons saw the father’s love and provision as enough. Worse yet, they didn’t even care about hurting his heart. They lacked intimacy with their father. 

The lessons here are strong for our generation. Is it not enough that God sent His own Son to die for our sins, and is coming again to take us to a Home He has prepared for us? Christians today get upset because God hasn’t given them earthly wealth and prosperity, or they grow bitter like the second son that lives under the beauty of his father’s provision, but is not content. One is entitled…the other a victim. 

This is not foreign to our generation that wants everything now…or questions the goodness of God. May we seek intimacy with God our Father above all the gifts we get from Him. We need to seek His heart over His hand. Wouldn’t it have been a joy to read that the second son was just happy to be his son, to live under his love, his example and his teaching, counting it all a joy and privilege to have been born into such a family. 

May we purpose to seek God’s heart above all the other blessings. This is intimacy.

(Devotional by Cheryl Hall-Laos)