“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. Luke 15:17-24
“Interestingly, the word prodigal actually means financially wasteful. The son failed morally and financially. The point of the story is that each of us has done the same. We are prodigal; God is the Father. We have all sinned morally, rejecting the law of God. And none of us have saved, given, or spent our money perfectly…
The story shows that even if you’re deeply in debt, even if you’ve run from God, and even if you’re wealthy and consumed with an ugly pride, God will still welcome you home with open arms if you’ll come back to Him.
Notice something here. The father was not taken off guard by the son’s return. He didn’t need a moment to figure out what to say. Instead, when the son was still a long way off, the father saw him coming back and ran to meet him. The father was watching the road. His patience and love were undiluted by the long wait, and his heart overflowed with welcoming love for his wayward son.”
John Cortines and Gregory Baumer in True Riches: What Jesus Really Said About Money and Your Heart (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2019) 22. Here’s another good new stewardship book for your library.
I am teaching Faith and Finances at Northern Seminary on Tuesdays in June. We have a saying: “No shame. No blame!” We say this because we are all prodigal. We have failed financially and morally. And, we need welcoming love!
The key for helping students (or anyone you serve) to experience transformation is to show them the same welcoming love from the Father. As they open up and acknowledge their mistakes, love the darkness out of them.
We don’t kill any fatted calves in class but we always get pizza. Northern is in Chicago, and Chicago is known for some of the best pizza on the planet. Seriously, we always end the class with a pizza celebration. I will miss that with COVID-19.
That’s one of the hardest parts about COVID-19. I miss celebrations together. No wonder when we all convene in heaven, our generous God will welcome us with love to a banquet.
For now, we press on despite COVID-19. Let’s do it with welcoming love.