That leads me to the matter of the father.
First, the younger son. He wants to go and he wants his money – now.
Second, the father.
This is really a story of a home-coming and a coming home to God Himself and finding Him to be a true father.
    But consider with me the heart of the father Jesus is speaking about. Look at verse twenty.  Luke 15:20 “And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. (21) And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.   (22) But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: (23) And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: (24) For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”
    Now, here’s how those who live in the Middle East would see this story.
    First, a son would never ask his father for his inheritance in the Middle East. What would happen on the part of the father, if this ever occurred would be this. The father would explode in anger. [Found on www.eprodigals.com]. Just to ask for your inheritance was to, in essence, betray your family.
    Second, this father does what no one expects. He divides his inheritance. All that he has earned and saved and wisely used is now to be divided up and a portion was given to his younger son.  And once he does this, he has a further choice. He has to count one son as dead. The other son, of course will always remain dear to him. But his younger son wants to leave the family.  And at the moment to dispenses the inheritance to his son, he must accept the suffering that comes with the loss of a son. He would usually count that son as dead.
    The world teaches you about money; it’s really never about the money. If anything, it’s always about the relationship. And yes, money has ruined a lot of relationships. But that only proves my point.

    Money never tells anyone what to do. You tell it what to do. Money is your servant. But how many of us have let money come between our relationships? Listen, it’s not about the money.
    Now, let me prove this to you. Again, look at the father. And, of course, as you look at the father, look at the LORD.  When the prodigal “came to himself”, he really came to a place where he decided that he had no food and no place to live. All he had left was to go back home for food and shelter.  He knew what really mattered was the relationship.  And as he arrives home though, and sees his father, that’s when he repents of his sin.
    A person’s difficult circumstances in life are difficult for a reason. God is always after your heart. So, He really does make things difficult for you so that you will turn yourself to Him.
    This young man had to come home in humility because everybody, father, mother, brother, the household servants, the entire community would now see him for what he was -- a waster, someone who should now be rejected.
    Now, if you lived in the Middle East, you would also know this. It’s not natural to see a man over forty running and especially running to a son he sees off in the distance; and certainly not one who has completely dishonored him. [Found on www.eprodigals.com].
    This story is a story mostly about God being a Father, the kind of Father we don’t expect Him to be. Those of you who are dads know how your heart would ache if this was your son. Everyday you’d wish you could see his face coming in to the breakfast or the dinner table; just to have a conversation with him; just to know that he’s safe; that he’s nearby; that he’s only a phone call away.
    So, when you hear the story called “The Prodigal Son” convert it into “The Father Who Missed His Son” and you’ll see the point of the parable.
      



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