Only When You Need Him
By JoeBruin88. Filed in Spiritual |Tags: Spiritual
Ever notice that pathetically we turn to God only when you need Him? How sad is that?
But He always receives you back when you turn to Him.
This is clearly illustrated in one of my favorite passages, commonly known as “The Prodigal Son” from Luke 15:11-32.
The younger of two sons rebels against his family and asks his father for his inheritance while his father is still alive. This son runs away and spends all the money. He has to slink back to his home after living in poverty and is prepared to beg just to be a servant in the household so he can survive. But his father has been waiting every day for him, on the lookout. When the father sees the son, the father runs out to meet him. Before the son can start his begging spiel, the father interrupts it and throws on the best clothes and ring onto his son. Then he proceeds to give a huge welcome home celebration party. Read it for yourself below.
The Prodigal Son
11 And He said, “A man had two sons.
12 “The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me (5) the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his (6) wealth between them.
13 “And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.
14 “Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.
15 “So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 “And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.
17 “But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!
18 ‘I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”‘
20 “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and (7) embraced him and kissed him.
21 “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out (8) the best robe and put it on him, and (9) put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;
23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;
24 for this son of mine was (10) dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 “And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be.
27 “And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’
28 “But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.
29 “But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;
30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your (11) wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32 ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was (12) dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”