THE PRIVILEGE OF STAYING HOME
Jesus spoke some profound words in the book of Matthew 11:28-30, ‘Come to me,
all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.^ Take my yoke upon you and
learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’
Related to this He had earlier said in Matthew 10: 38 - 39, ‘Whoever does not take up
their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and
whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.’
Back to our story of the prodigal, the younger son at some point started to resent
being under his father’s authority. He felt restricted and limited in how he wanted
to utilize the father’s resources. He felt uncomfortable around the father because
of the father’s strict discipline and good morals with which he had brought up his
children and required of his household.
The younger son wanted his freedom. He wanted to make his own decisions, have
his own money, and do whatever he wanted. He was not willing to lay down his
own will for that of the father. He was not willing to be patient and obedient and
work with his father in a life of integrity and righteousness. Even though this is
the life he was born into, he wanted out. Even though the father brought him to
this world, he wanted out.
But as Jesus says, whoever finds his life (seeks his own pleasure) will lose it (end
up hurting himself). And whoever loses his life for my sake (subjects himself to
God’s authority, disregarding their own desires) will find it (will be blessed and
rewarded, and will be happier in the end).
The yoke of Jesus is always easier. The younger son thought he was casting away
the father’s burdensome life, but it turned out the life he choose was more
enslaving, simply a life of bondage. In the end he crawled back home, humbled
and weary, to the father’s yoke and burden, which were definitely easier, a million
times easier. And like Jesus, the father is also gentle and humble at heart, as we
saw when he went to meet his son.