The elder son on the other hand got it right. He chose to stay home with his father.
He lived the life approved by his father, and he was able to access all of his father’s
wealth. I’m sure by now you will agree his yoke and burden were much easier and
lighter than those of the prodigal brother.
The elder son worked with his father in his affairs. He assisted in everything and
was his father’s right-hand man. The father could entrust his son with anything,
even his household. I’m sure the father could go on a long journey confident that
everything was okay back home because of his elder son.
The only problem with this son is that he did not realize what he had. He had
enjoyed it all his life and therefore taken it for granted. He did not fully understand
his special place of privilege, though he stayed at home. He thought this is simply
how life is for everyone.
And so when his younger brother came back home from his unfortunate
escapades, the elder brother felt aggrieved because of the love and favour with
which the father received him. He did not understand the pain his younger brother
had been through. He did not understand the punishment his prodigal brother
had already inflicted on himself, and so he did not understand that the father was
doing all this to comfort and console his lost and found son.
If the elder son had understood his position of privilege, he too would have taken
pity on his crushed brother.