Compassion that reconciles

LUKE 15:11-32

This is the story of the prodigal son who is reconciled to his father after a serious breakup.

Definition:  reconciliation means "to make friendly again or to make a settlement, such as in a quarrel."

There are four assumptions we can make in regards to reconciliation.

1. Assumes a division has taken place. 

Up until this point there had been unity between the three as they lived together.  The request is made, "divide to me my share of the estate."  In plain language this is bad enough but in reality it means more.  There is a division between father and son which the son initiates.  A division also is created between the older and younger son.  Upon the son's return a division is made between the elder son and the father.

What is the cause of the division?

• Probably the green grass syndrome.  Everything looks better elsewhere.
• A bit of selfishness.  "I" becomes the center of his world.  Note verse 12.  "give me the wealth that falls to me."

How many of us have done the same?  We want to take from the relationships we have.  We want everything we can get out of the relationship without any thought of what I can give.  We want everything that falls to us in our terms, "what I deserve."  We look beyond ourselves and compare our relationships to others and complain about what they have and what we lack, rather than asking, "what can I do to make things better?"  We also have our blinders on believing the only one affected is us.  However, the decisions we make will affect many around us, and not the least, God Himself. 

2. Assumes a distance has taken place.

It is almost automatic; where there is division, distance will follow.  No matter what the relationship;  husband-wife, father-child, employer-employee and even friend-friend.  We back off from what hurts and establish our distance.

• Geographically.  The younger son goes off to a far country.  He follows the green grass syndrome.  Things sure look great in the country far beyond our present boundaries.  "If only I could get over there" he thought, and so he did.

• Morally.  Values soon change and his father is no longer present to guide him so he makes some bad choices.  The picture we get is a man who throws his money to and fro with no concern for value.  His lifestyle follows with loose living and the idea conveyed is there is such a scattering that it can not be retrieved nor is there any accounting for it.  He is living an undisciplined life that is contrary to the will of God and violates all morality.

• Socially.  His distance is also social.  It appears that with the famine, even if he had money, which he did not, there would be no food to eat.  Due to this catastrophe he makes a decision which is contrary to all social graces he had learned.  He feeds swine with the desire to eat as they do.

Verse 16 gives the reason, "no one gave unto him."  I believe this is the key to any broken relationship;  he was the receiver rather than the giver.  There are many prodigals today and they are not all sons.  Neither are they all children.  Anyone with a broken relationship knows the experience of the prodigal.  Distancing has taken place, maybe not to the extent of the pig pen but emotionally and spiritually we are crying out with the same expressions of the prodigal.  Nobody will give to me because I have taken all there is to give.  It is time for us to give of ourselves and return to the father.

   III.  Reconciliation assumes redirection.

• Recalls a past relationship.  He recalls how good he could have it with his father, maybe not as a son but at least as a servant.  He recalls how much better the hired men of his father had it compared to his present life in the pig pen.  But he is more than a hired servant, he is the father's son and there is a position waiting for him that cannot be filled by any hired servant;  he cannot be replaced.  Within our relationships there are places that can not be filled by anyone but us.  I wonder if  within his heart he was saying, "I am willing to be a servant, but it would be even better if my father would restore me as a son." 
• Resolves to change things. 
1. I will return to my father.  He will go back to the point of departure.  Revelation 2:5 to the church at Ephesus, which had lost its first love, "return to the point of departure."
2. I will repent for what I have done.  In verses 18-19 he prepares a message he will give to his father. "I have sinned against God and in your sight, that is before heaven and before you."  Psalm 51:4, "Against you and you only have I sinned."  He recognizes his sin is against God and against his father.
3. I am willing to be reclassified.  Make me a servant if I cannot be a son.  At least I will have a place near my father.
4. I will return to do what I have resolved.  He went to his father.

4. Reconciliation assumes a reconciler will be there.
1. A compassionate father.  The words of compassion are used; "he saw him and had compassion on him."  The actions of compassion are also seen, "he ran, embraced, and kissed him."  Are there any other words needed when compassion is expressed through action?
2. And unconditional father.  There are no conditions for his return.  This was his son and he would always be his son.  The son was not able to fully express his confession but his father accepts him unconditionally.  Dress him as my son, put a robe on him, a ring on his finger, and sandals on his feet.  Kill the fatted calf because only the best will be part of the celebration.