“Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth, to me.”—Luke 15:12.
“Give me.” We get here an example of what is called in James (chap. 4:3), asking amiss. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” The secret of the younger sons desire comes out in these two words, “Give one,” and the sequel soon proved it was that he might consume it upon his lusts. For not many days after, “he gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.” (Ver. 13.) His desire was to make himself happy away from his father. The natural desire in each of our hearts, using all the benefits God gives to this end, like Gain, who “went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod” (that is, a wandering), &c. (Gen. 4:16-24.) So whether it is Cain, or this younger son, or ourselves, we prove ourselves “the enemies of God.”
It is well that we should challenge our hearts, whatever we are, saved or unsaved, as to the motives of our prayers. For though often we ask, through mercy we receive not, because we ask amiss, for our own selfish ends. Yet sometimes, as in Israel’s case when they lusted exceedingly in the wilderness,” God “gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” (Psalm 106:14, 15.) And so it was in our parable. And though God knows beforehand the use men will make of His gifts, how lavish He is with them. “He divided unto them his living.” (Ver. 12.) Does not God make “His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust?” (Matt. 5:45.) And if His gifts are thus a witness to the very heathen (Acts 14:17), what effect have they had on you, my reader?
“And he began to be in want.” (Ver. 14.) As we trace the downward course of this young man, we find that he receives the first check “when he had spent all.” It was a sad history, but a very common one in this world of ours. He had accepted all that he could get; spent it in self-gratification; used it to place distance between himself and his father, and never turned one thought of love or gratitude towards that father who had dealt so indulgently with him. And oh, my unconverted reader, is it not thus that you have treated God? Do you not owe Him life, and breath, and all things? And to what purpose have you used them?
It was just at this point, “when he had spent all,” that “there arose a mighty famine in that land.” “How unfortunate! What an unlucky fellow I am,” perhaps he said, “I could have borne this when I had plenty of money, but just to happen when I have spent my last penny!” But how truly can we, who know Him, say, “Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, to bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.” Prosperity has but been used to sever us further from Him. He will try adversity. “And he began to be in want.” Have us He will, cost what it may to Him or to us. God has set His heart on rebel, wandering sinners.
But instead of turning to his father, the prodigal turns to the world for relief, the world over which he had spent his all. And so he is allowed to learn what the world is: “And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.” What an occupation for a well-born Jew! The most loathsome and degrading. How low he had sunk, for “he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.” He discovers the hollowness of the worlds friendship now.
A young Frenchman of property, who led a gay, spendthrift life, had cause to suspect his butler of stealing his wine, and, to keep a check upon its use, marked each cork with the date when the bottle was drunk, and the initials of the friends who had partaken of it. At last the end came, He had “spent all,” became bankrupt, and was sold up. From the wreck of his once considerable estate, only a few worthless odds and ends, in some old boxes, remained to him. One day he bethought him to examine the contents of them. On opening one he found it full of the corks which he had marked. He looked them over, and read the initials of friend after friend, and amongst them all there was not one who would do him a good turn, or say a good word for him now. And this is but a too faithful picture of the world, to which so many cling. My reader, are you “in want?” In soul want?
“None but Jesus that can give
Peace and safety while we live;
None but Jesus can supply
Comfort, when we come to die.”