“Give me.” We have here an example of what is called in James (chapter 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 son’s desire comes out in these two words, “Give me,” 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, is to this end, like Cain, who “went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod” (that is, a wandering). (Gen. 4:16-2416And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. 17And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. 18And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech. 19And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. 21And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. 22And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah. 23And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. 24If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold. (Genesis 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” (Psa. 106:14, 1514But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. 15And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. (Psalm 106:14‑15)). And so it was in our parable.
“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 in his course “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 O, my unconverted reader, is it not thus that you have treated God? Do you not receive from 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” (Job 33:29, 3029Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, 30To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. (Job 33:29‑30)).
Prosperity has but been used to sever us farther 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 world’s friendship 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?