Home Series - Part 3
HOME - 3
“The Older Brother Syndrome”
Now his older son was is the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, “Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.” But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father; “Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.” And he said to him, “Son, you always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.” Luke 15:25-32
Often forgotten in this story is the older brother. Actually he plays a major part in this parable for he represents the Pharisees - the group to whom Jesus is addressing the story. The hypocrisy of the Pharisees is illustrated in the older sons attitude. While he had remained with the father physically, it is quite evident that his heart was far from him. By outward appearances - the reading of the Torah, observance of the details of the Law, and their dedication to the Temple worship - the Pharisees had remained “close” to God, but these things had become mere ritual for most of them. Their hearts were anything but right with God. They had chosen their religion about God rather than a relationship with God.
However, the Pharisees of Jesus’ day are not the only ones who should be able to identify with the older brother. As someone once said, “There’s a little bit of Pharisee in all of us.” Like it or not, we are all often afflicted with “the older brother syndrome.”
1. THE OLDER BROTHER BELIEVED HE WAS ENTITLED TO HIS FATHER’S BLESSINGS.
It is amazing how quickly the recipients of God’s grace forget what grace is truly all about. By definition grace is our receiving something which we do not deserve. Yet, whether we verbalize it or not, we often complain about not getting what we think we deserve.
Someone is blessed in some way, and we grumble within ourselves , “I deserve that more than they do.” Someone receives recognition and we think, “I worked harder than they did. Why don’t I get that type of recognition?”
Listen to what God’s Word says about grace.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before hand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:4-10
The next time you think you have been slighted or that God is treating someone else better than you, go back and examine the grace passage. Everything that we have and everything that we are is by the grace of God. We are His workmanship, not our own.
When we are convinced that we are entitled to God’s blessings, we will become envious and resentful if we don’t think we are receiving “our share.”
2. THE OLDER BROTHER RESENTED HIS YOUNGER BROTHER.
Filled with resentment when he learned how his father had responded to the younger brother, the older brother grew angry. His attitude and refusal to participate in the celebration would be as dishonoring to the father as what his younger brother had done. Therefore he too brought shame to his father yet did not express a repentant spirit. His selfishness and self-centered attitude was no better than the irresponsible and immoral attitude the younger brother had exhibited.
Sometime there is a cost to bring others to the father. Sometimes we’re not willing to make the sacrifice. Some churches resent new people coming into their congregations because their members feel threatened and are afraid of losing their “prestige” or even their pew. Missionaries often struggle to raise funds for their ministries because so many who have so much are reluctant to give to meet the need.
For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
As we look around us, all the fields are white;
Ripened unto harvest and so quickly comes the night.
Christians must get busy, there’s a work to do;
Here’s an urgent task awaiting you.
Souls are dying, men are crying,
Won’t you lead them to the cross?
Go and find them, help to win them,
Win the lost at any cost.
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful; but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38
3. THE OLDER BROTHER REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE HIS ESTRANGEMENT FROM THE FATHER.
The older brother may have remained home, but his heart was far away. Outwardly he had been keeping the rules, but he had missed the most important thing - a relationship with the father.
The older brother claimed, “I never transgressed your commandment at any time…” However, his attitude evidenced that this was not true. He had been satisfied to serve his father externally, but his heart was not right with him.
Jesus emphasized our love for God coming from the heart not necessarily the external practices of ritual or religion.
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39
The Old Testament Scripture which Jesus quoted was actually one of the passages that the Jewish men would wear on their foreheads and left arms during prayer. They would recite this passage every day and many orthodox Jews today still follow this practice.
The word translated love is a love that recognizes and chooses to follow that which is righteous, noble, and true, regardless of what one’s feelings in a matter might be. The Greek word is agapao, the verb of intelligent, purposeful, and committed love that is an act of the will. Genuine love of the Lord is intelligent, feeling, willing, and serving. It involves thought, sensitivity, intent, and even action where that is possible and appropriate. God has never sought either empty words or empty ritual. His desire is for the person himself, not simply what the person possesses.
God requires more than bare belief. Remember even the demons believe that God exists. The distinguishing mark of saving belief in God is love of God. Faith in Jesus Christ that is not characterized by a consuming love for Him is not saving faith but simply an acknowledgement of His divinity such as even the demons make.
One who truly loves God is one who truly obeys God. Jesus said…
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15
A genuine believer will also demonstrate love for his neighbor. This is brought about by the work of God in the heart of the believer.
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5
The older son represented the Pharisees who said all the right things and went through all the right motions, but were totally lacking in their love for God. The prodigal son was not the only one who needed to come home.
